A\\E 


L-UBRARY0,r 


fl 


vvlOSANGEl£j>          ^OF-CAllFORfc,       ^OF-CAIIF(%, 

lor-l  lu^l  fcctt 


t±        25 
2 


I     ^ 


L       * 


i  I 

<? «»         "a       "i<» 

^«AiNn-^      ^ 


lrft(T"fc 

3 


irrl 


NIYEftt/^. 
1, 


^OJIlVD-JO'i 
xOF-CAllFi 


ITCW 


tOF-CALJFOSfo, 
?\l 


JFQ^ 


m&     ^Aavuan-^ 


NR%     ^los' 


|sm: 


%a3AiNn3V^ 


flVR?%       ^lOSAKCEl^ 

•i^^r^    "T* 


IV-SOV 


ill 
^  •< 


%  i 


IL 


1117  I 


But  thy  doom  is  fixed,  thou  Cruel  One,  and  even  now  the  avenger's  hand 
is  at  the  door.      Behold,  and  tremble !  " 


THE 

STORY  OF  RUSTEM 

AND 

OTHER   PERSIAN    HERO   TALES 
FROM    FIRDUSI 


BY 

ELIZABETH  D.  RENNINGER 


ILLUSTRATED  BY  J.  L.  S.  WILLIAMS 


NEW  YORK 

CHARLES    SCRIBNER'S   SONS 
1909 


COPYRIGHT,  1909.  BY 
CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS 

Published  September,  1909 


?Z 


DEDICATION 

ONCE  upon  a  time,  not  so  many  years  ago,  a  librarian  in  one  of  our 
large  cities  conceived  the  idea  of  forming  a  hero  club  for  the  boys  of 
her  neighborhood.  So  it  came  to  pass  that  for  two  years,  every 
Wednesday  evening,  between  thirty  and  fifty  young  heroes  assembled 
in  the  club-room  of  the  library  to  listen  to  the  story  of  some  great 
hero,  told  either  by  the  librarian  or  by  some  visiting  story-teller. 

Now,  as  the  object  of  the  club  was  not  only  amusement,  helpful 
entertainment,  and  inspiration,  but  also  to  influence  the  boys'  reading, 
they  were  introduced  first  to  the  Greek  heroes:  Theseus,  Perseus, 
Hercules,  Jason,  and  the  heroes  of  Troy.  And  after  these  came  the 
heroes  of  chivalry:  Charlemagne,  Roland,  Oliver,  Ogier  the  Dane, 
and  the  four  Aymon  brothers.  Then  followed  Siegfried,  King 
Arthur,  and  the  Red  Cross  Knight.  Yea,  and  even  that  gay  little 
fellow  in  green — brave  Robin  Hood.  And  sprinkled  in  with  these 
more  or  less  mythological  heroes  were  those  of  a  more  practical  type: 
Father  Damien,  Livingstone,  Lincoln,  Peter  Cooper,  and  a  number  of 
every-day  heroes  who  so  well  exemplify  the  growth  in  heroic  ideals 
in  our  century  as  contrasted  with  those  of  primitive  times.  Boy 
Heroes  were  also  presented,  and  finally,  in  her  search  for  good 
story-hour  material,  the  librarian  decided  to  introduce  the  boys  to 
some  of  the  great  Persian  heroes — they  being  not  so  well  known. 

And,  since  the  boys'  delight  in  this  series  of  stories  really  inspired 
the  thought  of  making  it  possible  for  other  story-tellers  and  older 
boys  and  girls  to  enjoy  them  too,  therefore  this  book  is  appropriately 
and  affectionately  dedicated  to  the  Hero  Boys  of  the  Bushwick 
Branch  of  the  Brooklyn  Public  Library — a  more  appreciative  and 
promising  set  of  youths  than  whom  never  resolved  to  do,  and  dare, 
and  be — good,  practical,  every-day  heroes. 


845004 


FOREWORD 

THE  aim  of  this  series  of  stories  which,  through  the 
medium  of  Firdusi,  mirrors  so  fascinatingly  the  legendary 
history  of  Persia,  has  been,  not  only  to  provide  for  the 
story-teller  a  treasure-house  wherein  may  be  found  pure 
gold,  refined  for  ready  use,  every  coin  of  which  may  be 
stamped  with  the  narrator's  own  individuality  for  the 
inspiration  and  entertainment  of  any  group  of  children, 
but  also,  indirectly,  to  present  to  older  boys  and  girls,  in 
attractive  form,  the  story  of  the  Shah-Nameh  in  miniature. 

When  the  material  for  the  stories  was  originally  collected, 
the  author's  idea  was  simply  to  work  out  for  her  own  use 
in  story-telling  to  children  a  picture  presentation  of  a  de- 
lightful series  of  tales  little  known  to  the  young.  Accord- 
ingly, like  the  fabled  busy  bee,  she  scrupled  not  to  enter  the 
most  exclusive  Persian  gardens,  dipping  into  the  cup  of 
each  bright  posy  containing  the  least  mite  of  the  sweets 
for  which  she  was  delving — her  desire  being  to  give  to  this 
particular  jar  of  honey  not  the  Atkinson,  or  the  Mohl,  or 
the  Arnold  flavor  alone,  but  a  composite  which  should  be 
all  of  these,  and  yet  distinctly  individual  and  unique,  the 
point  of  view  being  not  the  usual  one  of  the  translator,  the 
paraphraser,  or  the  raconteur  working  upon  the  lines  of  the 
epitomist,  but  rather  that  of  the  moving  picture  artist  and 
the  story-teller  combined. 

The  debt  of  the  author,  consequently,  is  large,  and  ac- 
knowledgment difficult.  For  while  original  translators  of 
vii 


viii  FOREWORD 


the  great  epic,  as  Mohl,  in  French,  and  Atkinson  and 
Helen  Zimmern,  in  English — and  Arnold  in  his  noble 
poem  "  Sohrab  and  Rustem" — have  contributed  most  lib- 
erally to  this  series  of  word-pictures,  yet  many  additional 
treasures  also  have  been  discovered  and  secured,  even  from 
general  works  such  as,  for  example,  Benjamin's  "History 
of  Persia,"  and  altogether  from  sources  too  varied  and 
fugitive,  and  too  thoroughly  woven  into  the  fibre  of  her 
own  text,  to  be  individually  acknowledged.  The  debt, 
however,  is  none  the  less  great. 

It  only  remains  to  be  said  that  if,  when  started  upon 
their  mission,  these  stories  give  to  children  at  large  as 
much  pleasure  as  they  gave  to  the  particular  group  of 
"heroes"  for  whom  they  were  worked  out,  they  will  not 
only  justify  their  right  of  being,  but  also  their  method  of 
preparation,  which,  though  without  scholarly  pretensions, 
may  yet  serve  to  make  better  known  and  loved  one  of 
the  masterpieces  of  literature,  alas,  too  little  familiar  to- 
day even  to  grown-ups  well  versed  in  European  classics. 

E.  D.  R. 

NORTHUMBERLAND,  PA.,  September,  1909. 


CONTENTS 

INTRODUCTION xiii 

PAGE 

KAVAH  THE  BLACKSMITH i 

FERIDOUN  THE  GLORIOUS 22 

IRIJ,  A  GENTLE  HERO 36 

MlNUCHTR  THE  AVENGER 50 

ZAL  OF  THE  WHITE  HAIR 63 

RUSTEM  THE  WONDER  CHILD 83 

RUSTEM  THE   YOUNG  WARRIOR 95 

RUSTEM 's  SEVEN  LABORS,  OR  ADVENTURES     ....  120 

RUSTEM  THE  PEHLIVA 161 

RUSTEM'S  ROMANCE 175 

SOHRAB  THE  YOUTH 193 

SOHRAB  AND  THE  WARRIOR  MAIDEN 2O2 

THE  WRATH  OF  RUSTEM 212 

RUSTEM  THE  SPY 224 

THE  COMBAT  OF  SOHRAB  AGAINST  RUSTEM    ....  230 

SIAWUSH  THE  PERSIAN  SIR  GALAHAD 259 

ix 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

RUSTEM  THE  AVENGER 279 

How  GEW  HELPED  A  HERO-PRINCE  UNTO  A  THRONE  284 

LATER  FEATS  OF  RUSTEM 302 

ISFENDIYAR'S  SEVEN  LABORS,  OR  HAFT-KHAN    ...  324 

THE  COMBAT  OF  ISFENDIYAR  AGAINST  RUSTEM  .    .    .  337 

THE  DEATH  OF  RUSTEM 355 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

"  But  thy  doom  is  fixed,  thou  Cruel  One,  and  even  now 
the  avenger's  hand  is  at  the  door.  Behold,  and 
tremble!" Frontispiece 


Then  pressing  the  golden  casket  unto  his  breast,  he 

spake  unto  God  in  his  grief 48 

Then    in  graceful  circles  she  swept  slowly  down  unto 

the  wondering  father 74 

The  two  rode  side  by  side  into  Zabulistan 86 

Mad  with  pain,  he   sprang   at   Rustem   like   a  wild 

elephant 150 

And  finally,  in  his  perplexity,  he  consulted  his  astrologers     172 
The  days  passed  for  both  like  a  happy  dream       ...     190 

They  drew  their  long  Indian  swords  and  fell  to  work 

again 238 

At  evening  they  came  unto  a  vast  wood,  reaching  many 

leagues 260 

Seated  beside  it  a  youth  like  unto  a  royal  cypress      .     .     292 
xi 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


He   discovered    the    magician    deeply    engaged    in 

incantation  and  witchcraft 304 

Isfendiyar  seized  his  bow,  and  whiz!  whiz!  went  a 

shower  of  arrows 348 


INTRODUCTION 

THE  world  has  few  great  epics.  In  fact,  it  has  been  said 
that  there  are  perhaps  but  six  in  all.  Yet  the  materials 
for  an  epic  are  to  be  found  among  all  nations  in  those 
traditions,  half-fact,  half-fiction,  which  cluster  about  the 
great  national  heroes  whose  deeds  of  prowess  make  the 
era  in  which  they  lived  stand  forth  before  our  eyes,  clear- 
cut  and  brilliant,  the  canvas  filled  from  end  to  end  with 
deeds  of  daring,  scenes  of  love,  violence,  and  romance 
which,  through  all  ages,  thrill  and  make  their  own  appeal 
to  the  heart  of  man. 

Epics  are  written,  as  a  rule,  in  the  infancy  of  a  race,  and 
they  all  have  this  in  common,  that  they  are  not  the  inven- 
tion of  a  single  individual,  but  being  founded  upon  nationap) 
traditions,  are  handed  down  orally  from  one  generation  to 
another,  until,  in  the  fulness  of  time,  one  of  the  world's 
great  poets  stretches  forth  his  hand,  gathers  together  all  the 
beautiful  flowers  that  have  blossomed  in  the  fancy  of  his 
people — as  has  been  so  happily  said  of  Firdusi — and 
having  breathed  upon  the  precious  blossoms,  plants  them 
in  new  beauty  in  the  Gardens  of  Paradise,  there  to  bloom 
on  among  the  immortals,  a  joy  and  delight  forever. 

Among  the  truly  great  national  epics,  two  fall  to  India — 
the  Mahabharata  and  the  Ramayana;  two  to  Greece — 
the  Iliad  and  the  Odyssey;  one  to  the  North — the  Nibel- 
ungenlied;  and  one  to  Persia — the  Shah-Nameh. 

The  Shah-Nameh — without  question  the  greatest  of  the 
Eastern  epics — is  seven  times  the  length  of  the  Iliad, 

xiii 


xiv  INTRODUCTION 

being  in  fact  much  longer  than  the  Iliad  and  the  Odyssey 
together,  comprising  in  all  60,000  couplets,  and  having  oc- 
cupied Firdusi  thirty  years  in  writing.  The  poem  presents 
us,  in  most  musical  rhythm,  with  a  complete  view  of  a  cer- 
tain definite  era  of  civilization — the  Persia  of  the  Heroic 
Age;  an  age  of  chivalry  rivaling  in  mighty  deeds  of  prowess 
and  romantic  interest  the  mediaeval  chivalry  of  Charle- 
magne and  the  glorious  Peers  of  France.  And,  moreover, 
we  have  here  a  portrait  gallery  of  distinct  and  unique  in- 
dividuals, the  bright,  particular  star  being  Rustem,  the 
great  hero  whose  superhuman  strength,  courage,  and"\ 
loyalty  prevented  Persia,  for  hundreds  of  years,  from  fally 
ing  into  the  hands  of  her  foes. 

In  writing  the  Shah-Nameh  it  is  said  that,  in  addition 
to  his  poetic  and  historic  incentives,  Firdusi  had  a  distinctly 
patriotic  motive.  For,  being  an  ardent  lover  of  things 
Persian,  he  hoped  thus  to  keep  alive  in  the  hearts  of  his 
^countrymen  the  glories  of  their  ancestors,  in  order  that 
they  might  not  degenerate  into  mere  puppets  under  Arab 
domination.  Now  that  Firdusi  had  this  end  in  view  is 
shown  not  alone  by  the  theme  and  spirit  of  the  epic,  but  also 
by  the  diction  employed,  for  the  poet  adheres  rigorously 
throughout  to  the  native  Persian,  using  few  Arabic  words, 
the  consequence  being  that  no  work  in  the  literature  of  Per- 
sia is  so  free  from  foreign  admixture  as  the  Shah-Nameh. 

Unfortunately,  no  complete  copy  of  the  great  "Iliad 
of  the  East"  is  known  to  exist,  though  there  are  innumer- 
able MS.  copies,  some  of  them  wondrously  beautiful,  the 
scribes  having  used  Egyptian  reeds,  and  the  blackest  of 
ink  which  never  fades ;  the  writing  being  done  on  the 
finest  of  silk  paper,  powdered  with  gold  and  silver  dust; 
the  margins  richly  illuminated;  the  whole  perfumed  with 


INTRODUCTION  xv 

sandal- wood,  or  some  costly  essence;  and  the  title-page  of 
elaborate  design. 

The  best  known  translations  of  the  Shah-Nameh  are: 
an  abridgment  in  prose  and  verse,  by  Edward  Atkinson; 
Jules  Mohl's  French  translation,  which  is  perhaps  the  most 
scholarly  work;  Helen  Zimmern's  excellent  paraphrase; 
the  versions  given  in  Reed's  Persian  literature,  Benjamin's 
"History  of  Persia,"  and  various  other  partial  adaptations. 

As  for  Firdusi  (Abul  Kasim  Mansur)  the  "Poet  of 
Paradise,"  who  gave  to  the  world  the  Shah-Nameh,  many 
are  the  poetic  legends  that  cluster  about  his  name,  making 
it  extremely  difficult  to  give  any  authentic  account  of  his 
life.  Authorities  differ  as  to  the  exact  date,  but  he  is  said 
to  have  been  born  at  Shahdab,  a  suburb  of  Tus  in  Khoras- 
san,  somewhere  about  A.  D.  930.  His  father's  name  is 
quite  unknown,  but  he  seems  to  have  been  one  of  the 
Dihkan,  or  landed  gentry  of  Persia.  It  is  also  said  that  he 
was  a  gardener,  and  that  Firdusi  received  his  name  from 
the  spot  which  he  cultivated  (Firdus,  i.  e.,  Paradise). 
However  that  may  be,  the  legend  goes  on  to  relate  that,  it 
having  been  communicated  to  the  father  in  a  dream  that 
his  son  would  have  a  great  future,  he  had  given  to  Firdusi 
the  best  education  the  time  and  place  could  afford.  The 
boy  was  carefully  educated,  therefore,  in  the  Arabic  lan- 
guage and  literature,  the  Old  Persian,  and  the  history  and 
traditions  of  his  country. 

Firdusi  seems  to  have  been  a  dreamy  youth,  for  it  is 
recorded  of  him  that  he  spent  many  hours  beside  the  canal 
which  ran  through  his  father's  grounds,  perusing  eagerly 
the  old  legends  of  the  early  wars  of  his  country  as  exempli- 
fied in  the  splendid  deeds  of  her  heroes;  or  in  dreaming  of 
the  great  things  which  he,  himself,  meant  to  accomplish 


xvi  INTRODUCTION 

one  day  for  the  glory  of  Persia.  Yea,  and  the  lad  was 
practical,  too,  for  aside  from  his  own  personal  dream  of 
greatness,  his  great  hope  was  that,  having  himself  achieved, 
he  might  be  able  to  build  for  Tus,  his  native  city,  a  great 
dike  of  stone  which  should  prevent  the  fearful  inundations 
which,  from  time  to  time,  wrought  such  devastation  and 
ruin  to  the  poor  people  of  Tus. 

Little  seems  to  be  known  of  Firdusi's  younger  manhood, 
but  it  appears  that  his  poetic  gifts  were  early  perceived 
and  fostered,  and  that  he  spent  not  his  time  in  idle  dream- 
ing.^ For  suddenly  it  came  to  light  that,  while  at  the  Court 
of  Mahmud,  the  Sultan's  poets  were  laboring  under  the 
direction  of  that  great  patron  of  literature  to  produce  from 
the  records  already  accumulated  a  history  of  Persia  in 
rhyme,  all  unaided,  in  an  obscure  village,  one  unknown  to 
fame  was  attempting  the  same  great  undertaking.  Now 
thus  it  came  to  pass  that  Mahmud  who  had  the  records, 
and  Firdusi,  who  possessed  the  gifts,  were  brought  to- 
gether. 

And  this  having  come  to  pass,  Firdusi  basked  from  this 
time  forth  in  the  royal  favor.  A  beautiful  house  was  given 
him  by  the  Sultan,  the  walls  of  which  were  decorated  with 
martial  scenes  painted  by  the  great  artists  of  Persia,  in 
order  to  fire  the  imagination  of  the  poet;  the  Bustan- 
Nameh,  a  collection  of  the  chronicles  and  traditions  of 
Persia,  together  with  other  valuable  records  were  placed  at 
his  disposal;  and  thus,  happily  equipped  and  surrounded, 
the  poet  worked  unhampered  upon  his  great  masterpiece. 
Yea,  for  thirty  long  years  Firdusi  wrought,  and  when  at 
last  the  60,000  couplets  of  the  great  Shah-Nameh  were 
completed,  he  rejoiced,  for  was  he  not  to  receive  a  re- 
ward of  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold  for  each  thousand 


INTRODUCTION  xvii 

couplets  ?  And  with  this  princely  sum  could  he  not  now 
carry  out  his  long-cherished  dream  of  a  dike  for  his  fellow- 
townsmen  ? 

But,  alas!  Firdusi,  while  at  the  Court,  had  incurred 
the  enmity  of  the  Sultan's  prime-minister,  who  resented 
the  fact  that  he,  the  great  prime-minister,  was  not  also 
mentioned  in  the  eulogy  to  Mahmud  which  prefaced  the 
great  epic  poem.  Poisoning  the  mind  of  the  Sultan  against 
Firdusi,  therefore,  the  spoiled  favorite  of  the  Court  man- 
aged that  the  money  promised  the  poet  should  be  paid  in 
silver  instead  of  gold.  Now  Firdusi  was  at  the  bath  when 
the  money  was  brought  to  him,  and  in  his  anger  at  the 
insult  thus  offered  him,  he  immediately  divided  the  money 
into  three  parts,  giving  them  respectively  to  the  keeper  of 
the  baths,  the  seller  of  refreshments,  and  the  slave  who 
brought  the  money.  "The  Sultan  shall  learn,"  he  said 
proudly,  "that  Firdusi  did  not  spend  the  labor  of  thirty 
years  to  be  rewarded  with  silver." 

Of  course  this  independence  of  spirit  upon  the  part  01) 
Firdusi  angered  the  haughty  Sultan,  who,  when  he  learned/ 
that  his  gift  had  been  despised,  condemned  the  poet  to  be 
trampled  to  death  by  an  elephant  upon  the  following  morn- 
ing.    But  this  vile  deed  came  not  to  pass,  for  the  outraged 
poet  fled,  first  giving  into  the  hands  of  the  prime-minister  a 
sealed  paper  containing  a  bitter  satire  upon  Mahmud, 
which  he  desired  to  be  inserted  in  the  epic  in  place  of  his 
former  eulogy. 

The  chronicles  relate  that,  as  a  result  of  this  most  unfor- 
tunate incident,  Firdusi,  like  Dante,  became  for  long  years 
an  exile  and  wanderer,  being  driven  by  the  persecutions  of 
the  Sultan  from  court  to  court,  from  country  to  country. 
Finally,  however,  after  many  weary  years  of  banishment 


INTRODUCTION 


and  harassing  care,  friends  of  Firdusi,  with  great  difficulty, 
extorted  from  the  Sultan  a  pardon,  and  the  ill-starred  poet, 
old  and  broken,  returned  unobtrusively  to  his  native  town. 
Here  the  days  of  the  immortal  bard  soon  drew  to  a  close. 
It  is  related  that,  hearing  a  little  child  singing  in  the  streets 
of  Tus  some  of  his  own  verses,  his  bitter  wrongs  and 
sufferings  were  so  vividly  recalled  to  him  that  he  was 
seized  with  faintness,  and,  being  carried  to  his  home,  soon 
after  expired.  His  death  occurred  A.  D.  1020,  in  the  eighty- 
ninth  year  of  his  age.  Being  refused  burial  in  sacred 
ground,  the  Sheik  also  declining  to  read  the  customary 
prayers  over  his  grave,  the  old  poet  was  buried  in  the 
beautiful  garden  where  so  hopefully  he  had  dreamed  the 
long,  long  thoughts  of  poetic  youth.  Now,  alas !  thus  ended 
the  earthly  career  of  grand  old  Firdusi,  the  "Oriental 
Homer,"  as  he  has  been  called;  also  greatest  poet  of  Persia, 
and  one  of  the  greatest  of  all  literature. 

But,  though  Firdusi  was  now  peacefully  laid  to  rest,  his 
story  runs  on.  For,  according  to  one  of  the  legends,  it  is  re- 
lated that  the  Sultan,  having  at  last  learned  of  his  minister's 
treachery,  banished  him  from  his  court  forever.  And  not 
only  this,  for  being  stricken  with  remorse  at  having  driven 
unjustly  from  his  side  the  poet  who  had  made  his  court 
"resplendent  as  Paradise,"  as  he  himself  had  said,  Mah- 
mud  determined  to  make  reparation.  Learning,  therefore, 
that  Firdusi  was  living  obscurely  at  Tus,  he  sent  him  the 
long-delayed  payment,  together  with  camels  loaded  with 
princely  gifts — but  too  late!  The  royal  retinue  met  the 
funeral  of  the  great  poet  at  the  city  gates.  Firdusi  being 
no  more,  the  Sultan's  gifts  were  offered  to  the  poet's 
daughter,  by  whom  they  were  disdainfully  refused.  Other 
relatives,  however,  accepted  the  peace  offering,  building 


INTRODUCTION 


with  it  a  bridge,  the  dreamed-of  dike,  and  a  house  of  refuge 
for  travellers — all  of  which  memorials  are  now  gone. 

But  Firdusi's  fame  lives  on,  growing  brighter  with  the 
years.  When  the  storm-tossed,  unappreciated  old  poet, 
therefore,  in  self- justification  said  that  he  had  written  what 
no  tide  should  ever  wash  away,  what  men  unborn  should 
read  o'er  oceans  wide,  he  made  no  idle  boast.  For  to-d  y, 
not  only  Persian  boys  and  girls,  but  the  young  people  of  the 
world — as  well  as  all  lovers  of  good  literature — are  reading 
with  delight  the  fascinating  legends  of  Persia,  as  mirrored 
forth  in  the  Shah-Nameh,  or  Book  of  Kings,  of  the  grand 
old  poet,  Firdusi  the  Persian. 


KAVAH  THE  BLACKSMITH 

ONCE  upon  a  time,  so  the  old  chronicles  relate, 
during  the  reign  of  Jemshid  the  Shah,  there 
dwelt  in  the  deserts  of  Arabia  a  King  named 
Mirtas.  Now  Mirtas  was  rich  in  flocks  and  herds  of 
goats,  sheep  and  camels  which  yielded  up  a  bounteous 
store  of  balmy  milk;  and  this  milk  the  generous  King 
always  distributed  in  charity  among  the  poor.  So  God 
was  pleased  with  Mirtas,  and  increased  his  favor  upon 
him  accordingly. 

Now  this  King,  smiled  upon  by  the  Almighty,  had  one 
priceless  possession,  his  only  son,  Zohak,  who,  in  his 
youth,  seemed  destined  to  rival  his  father  in  nobility  of 
character.  But,  alas!  upon  this  noble  young  cypress,  so 
luxuriant  in  buds  of  promise,  there  suddenly  fell  a  blight, 
disastrous  alike  to  the  house  of  Mirtas  and  to  the  land  of 
Persia.  And  this  is  how  it  came  about. 

One  day  Iblis,  the  Evil  One,  roaming  the  earth  in 
search  of  mischief,  chanced  to  stray  into  the  palace  of 
Mirtas,  and,  in  so  doing,  he  happened  upon  the  charming 
young  Zohak.  Now  Iblis  was  disguised  as  a  noble,  and  so 
eloquent  and  full  of  guile  was  his  discourse,  that  the  young 
prince,  fascinated,  eagerly  besought  his  new  friend  to  let 
the  music  of  his  voice  continue  to  delight  him. 

Then  Iblis,  who  saw  here  a  fertile  field  for  his  guile,  was 
pleased  to  see  the  charm  work  so  well.  So,  his  tongue 
dropping  honey,  he  thus  spake  unto  the  youthful  Zohak: 

"O  Pearl  of  the  East,  alas!  for  though  I  am  master  of 
still  sweeter  converse,  I  may  not  address  it  unto  one  so 
l 


PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 


young  unless  thou  wilt  first  enter  into  a  solemn  compact 
with  me  never  under  any  pretence  to  divulge  what  I  shall 
tell  unto  thee." 

Alas !  Zohak  was  guileless  and  simple  of  heart,  and  so, 
suspecting  no  evil,  he  sware  unto  Iblis  that  he  would  obey 
him  in  all  things,  for  he  believed  him  to  be  noble  and 
good.  Judge,  then,  of  his  surprise  and  horror  when,  the 
oath  taken,  Iblis  said  unto  him: 

"O  Light  of  the  Universe,  thou  who  art  fair  and  wise 
and  valiant,  give  ear  unto  the  voice  of  thy  friend,  and  soon 
thy  stately  young  head  shall  be  raised  above  the  stars. 
Listen!  Thy  father  hath  become  old,  and  longeth  to  enter 
into  his  reward.  While  he  liveth,  necessarily  thou  wilt 
remain  unknown.  Let  him,  therefore,  no  longer  stand  in 
thy  way.  The  robes  of  sovereignty  are  ready,  and  better 
adapted  to  thee.  But  raise  thy  hand,  therefore,  and  the 
name  of  Mirtas  shall  be  naught  but  a  beautiful  memory 
in  the  world.  The  leaves  in  the  Book  of  Fate  turn  slowly, 
but  who  can  change  what  is  written  on  its  pages?" 

Thus  spake  wily  Iblis  and  as  the  meaning  of  this 
fiendish  suggestion  dawned  fully  upon  him  it  would  be 
hard  indeed  to  picture  to  you  Zohak's  horror  and  dismay. 
Enough  to  say  that  at  first  he  refused  utterly  to  be  a 
party  to  his  father's  death,  but,  though  the  struggle  was 
long  and  obstinate,  Iblis  finally  terrified  and  subdued  the 
youth  by  telling  him  that  if  he  refused,  his  own  life  would 
be  the  forfeit.  Then,  in  order  to  make  it  easier  for  him 
to  agree  to  the  proposal,  Iblis  assured  Zohak  that  he 
need  not  perform  the  deed  with  his  own  hands,  but  merely 
consent  to  it. 

So  Iblis  dug  a  pit  on  the  pathway  that  led  to  Mirtas's 
house  of  prayer,  and  covered  it  over  with  grass.  And 


KAVAH  THE  BLACKSMITH 


presently,  when  night  was  preparing  to  throw  her  dark 
mantle  over  the  earth,  as  the  King,  according  to  his  cus- 
tom, was  going  unto  the  house  of  prayer,  it  came  to  pass 
that  he  fell  into  the  pit,  and  his  legs  and  arms  being 
broken  by  the  fall,  he  shortly  after  expired. 

Thus,  according  to  the  legend,  perished  Mirtas,  that 
father  whose  tenderness  would  not  suffer  even  the  winds 
to  blow  upon  his  son  too  roughly.  And  thus  also  Zohak, 
in  his  tender  youth,  sold  himself  unto  the  Evil  One. 

Now  Iblis,  having  succeeded  in  getting  Zohak  into  his 
power,  continued  to  bestow  upon  him  the  most  devoted 
attention  and  flattery,  with  the  view  of  moulding  him 
entirely  unto  his  will.  Among  other  things,  therefore,  he 
taught  him  the  art  of  magic;  and,  having  done  so,  he 
assured  him  that  through  it  he  should  become  the  greatest 
monarch  of  his  time.  But  though  the  ear  of  Zohak  was 
ever  open  unto  Iblis,  he  ruled  his  people  in  both  good 
and  evil,  for  he  was  not  yet  wholly  given  over  unto 
guile. 

Seeing  this,  therefore,  Iblis  imagined  a  new  device  in 
his  black  heart,  for  he  was  not  yet  satisfied  with  the  degree 
of  authority  which  he  had  obtained  over  the  young  King, 
desiring  above  all  things  to  see  him  completely  given  over 
unto  evil.  Consequently,  with  this  end  in  view,  by  the  aid 
of  magic,  he  took  upon  himself  the  form  of  an  engaging 
youth,  and,  appearing  thus  before  Zohak,  he  craved  per- 
mission to  serve  him  as  director  of  the  royal  kitchen. 
Pleased  with  the  guileless  manners  of  the  youth,  and  with 
the  delicious  and  savory  food  which  he  caused  to  be  spread 
before  him,  the  King  finally  commanded  that  the  keys  of 
the  great  store-rooms  be  given  him,  and  that  he  be  allowed 
to  reign  supreme  over  the  royal  board. 


PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 


You  must  know  that  up  to  this  time,  men  had  been 
nourished  with  bread,  and  fruit,  and  herbs  alone;  Iblis, 
however,  prepared  flesh  for  Zohak,  and  invented  the  art  of 
cooking.  And  cunning  indeed  was  this  device,  for  the 
King  was  delighted  with  the  new  dishes  made  from  every 
variety  of  bird,  and  four-footed  animal,  and  lived  but  for 
each  new  repast.  Every  day,  therefore,  something  dainty 
and  rare  was  prepared  for  the  royal  table,  and  every  day 
Iblis  increased  in  favor,  for  the  flesh  gave  unto  the  King 
courage  and  strength  like  unto  a  lion,  and  the  fame  of  his 
table  was  great  in  the  land. 

But  of  all  the  new  dislies  prepared  for  the  King,  an  egg 
was  unto  him  the  most  delicious  of  all.  "What  can  be 
superior  to  this?"  he  cried  in  ecstasy,  rolljng  his  eyes  tow- 
ard heaven,  and  heaving  a  sigh  of  profound  content. 

"Speak  not  so,"  replied  Iblis,  smiling,  "for  to-morrow 
thou  shalt  partake  of  something  still  more  savory." 

The  next  day,  therefore,  the  magician  of  the  King's 
kitchen  brought  unto  his  majesty's  table  delicious  fare, 
served  exquisitely  to  please  the  eye  as  well  as  taste,  par- 
tridge and  pheasant,  a  banquet  for  a  prince.  Then  Zohak, 
delighted  beyond  measure,  exclaimed  impulsively: 

"O  Prince  among  Cooks,  verily  for  this  new  wonder 
wrought  in  our  behalf,  whatsoever  thou  desirest,  and  I  can 
give,  is  thine.  Thou  hast  but  to  speak  the  word." 

Then  Iblis,  glad  and  little  anxious,  replied  unto  His 
Majesty  that  he  had  but  one  request — one  unimportant 
wish.  It  was  to  kiss  the  mighty  monarch's  naked  shoul- 
der— a  mere  whim! 

So  Zohak,  unsuspicious,  stripped  his  shoulders,  glad  to 
gratify  a  wish  so  flattering  and  so  simple.  Then  cunning 
Iblis  quickly  stooped,  and  twice  he  kissed  the  King  with 


KAVAH  THE  BLACKSMITH 


fiendish  glee,  and,  having  done  so,  vanished  from  the  sight 
of  men. 

But  alas,  alas  for  Zohak!  for  forth  from  his  shoulders, 
at  each  salute,  sprang  hissing  serpents,  venomous  and 
black,  whose  fiery  tongues  darted  unceasingly  about,  as 
though  in  search  of  prey.  And  at  this,  imagine,  if  you  can, 
Zohak's  horror  and  dismay!  his  angry  cries  of  fear  and 
rage!  the  frenzied  haste  with  which  he  gave  command  to 
have  the  ugly  creatures  severed  at  the  roots!  But  vain 
their  utmost  haste;  vain  all  their  zeal,  for  no  sooner  were 
the  writhing  things  cut  off,  than  quickly  forth  once  more 
they  sprang,  like  veritable  jacks-in-a-box.  And  though 
the  King's  servants  wearied  not,  but  struck  again  and 
again,  and  yet  again,  it  was  all  to  no  purpose,  for  every 
time  that  the  vile  creatures  were  severed,  they  sprang 
forth  bigger,  blacker,  and  uglier  than  before,  each  new 
pair  writhing  and  hissing  yet  more  angrily,  as  though, 
like  Iblis,  they  longed  for  naught  so  much  as  to  lodge 
their  poisonous  venom  deep  in  the  hearts  of  men. 

And  now,  indeed,  was  there  tumult  in  the  King's  court! 
And  well  was  it  for  Iblis  that,  though  the  most  diligent 
search  was  instituted,  he  was  nowhere  to  be  found  through- 
out the  whole  dominion.  Useless,  therefore,  was  their 
search;  and  all  to  no  purpose  did  the  King's  ministers 
offer  mountains  of  gold  as  a  reward  for  him  who  should  rid 
His  Majesty  of  the  awful  evil  laid  upon  him.  In  response 
to  the  proclamation  the  most  celebrated  magicians  and 
wise  men  of  the  East  flocked  unto  the  court  of  Zohak, 
but,  among  them  all,  not  one  was  found  able  to  charm 
away  the  dreadful  vipers. 

Every  sunrise  a  new  magician,  every  sunset  failure  re- 
ported; this  was  the  record  of  the  wretched  days  of  Zohak 


PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 


the  King  from  this  time  forth,  until  hope  was  almost  dead 
in  his  heart.  Then  one  day,  as  the  unhappy  monarch  sat 
upon  his  gorgeous  throne,  sunk  in  the  most  abject  misery, 
Iblis,  in  the  guise  of  a  skilled  physician,  once  more  pre- 
sented himself  before  the  King,  and,  after  examination  and 
mature  deliberation,  thus  spake  the  cunning  one  unto  his 
prey: 

"O  Shelter  of  the  Universe,  I  have  searched  the  heavens 
diligently  concerning  the  horrible  evil  which  hath  fallen 
upon  thee,  and  in  thy  horoscope  I  read  a  bitter  tale. 
For  behold,  in  the  Book  of  Fate  it  is  written  that  from 
this  time  forth  thou  shalt  be  known  among  men  as  the 
'Serpent  King,'  since  the  stars  have  decreed  that  the 
hissing,  writhing  vipers  shall  remain  connected  with  thee 
throughout  thy  life,  involving  thee  in  perpetual  misery. 
Hope  not,  therefore,  by  the  arts  of  magic  to  avert,  thy  fate, 
for  charms  are  of  no  avail  when  pitted  against  the  stars." 

Alas!  As  Zohak  heard  this  dire  interpretation  of  his 
horoscope,  he  uttered  an  exceedingly  bitter  cry,  and  gave 
himself  up  utterly  to  despair;  seeing  which,  Iblis  smiled, 
for  he  knew  that  the  hour  of  his  triumph  was  near.  Con- 
cealing his  satisfaction,  however,  he  thus  spake  unto 
Zohak: 

"  O  Heaven  Accursed,  despair  not  yet  so  utterly,  for  one 
faint  ray  of  hope  saw  I  glimmering  for  thee  from  afar, 
which,  if  thou  wilt,  thou  mayest  cause  even  yet  to  burst 
forth  into  a  sunbeam  of  promise.  For  lo,  it  is  written,  that 
if  yonder  writhing  creatures  be  fed  daily  upon  human 
brains,  which  would  be  the  same  unto  them  as  poison,  in 
the  course  of  time  they  may  die;  at  any  rate,  in  this  way 
only  can  thy  life  be  prolonged  and  made  easy.  It  is  for 
thee  to  decide." 


KAVAH  THE  BLACKSMITH- 


So,  having  thus  cunningly  lodged  this  evil  suggestion  in 
the  mind  of  the  King,  Iblis  once  more  vanished,  evidently 
through  the  ceiling,  for  there  floated  down  thence  unto  the 
ears  of  the  unhappy  monarch  the  mocking  refrain : 

"If  life  hath  any  charm  for  thee, 
The  brain  of  man  their  food  must  be!" 

Now  the  truth  was,  Iblis  hated  the  human  race,  and  he 
was,  therefore,  greatly  delighted  to  think  that  as  a  result 
of  his  cunning,  in  time  a  great  portion  of  mankind  would 
be  destroyed  by  the  dreadful  serpents.  For  well  he  knew 
that  Zohak  had  now  become  so  desperate  that  he  would 
do  anything  to  obtain  release  from  his  misery.  What  he 
did  not  know  was  that  all  his  craft  and  cunning  were 
powerless  to  affect  God's  plans  for  the  children  of  Adam. 

But  alas  for  Zohak!  And  alas  also  for  his  subjects! 
For  the  chronicles  relate  that  from  this  time  forth  was  he 
given  over  wholly  unto  evil,  and  that  each  sunrise  saw  two 
young  men  of  the  flower  of  the  land  slain  to  gratify  the 
furious  hunger  of  the  serpents.  And  lo!  the  fear  of  the 
King  was  great  in  the  land. 

Nor  did  the  fame  and  fear  of  the  Serpent  King  confine 
itself  to  his  own  borders.  Alas,  no !  for  Persia  was  also  to 
suffer  at  his  hands.  And  now  you  must  hear  something  of 
the  Shahs  of  Old,  but  particularly  of  the  great  Shah,  Jem- 
shid,  whose  fate  was  so  closely  bound  up  with  that  of 
Zohak. 

In  the  old  chronicles  of  Persia  we  read  that  Kaimurs 
was  the  first  Shah  of  Iran,  and  that  he  was  chosen  by  the 
people  to  rule  over  them.  Prior  to  his  time,  each  man 
lived  for  himself,  in  the  most  primitive  way,  owning  alle- 
giance to  no  one  but  Ormuzd,  the  great  God  of  the  Persians. 


8  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Now  the  legends  tell  us  that  Kaimurs  was  so  wise  and 
good  that  even  the  animals  assembled  to  do  him  homage, 
and  to  help  fight  his  battles.  Yea,  it  is  even  said  that,  when 
he  was  crowned,  great  lions  and  tigers  came  forth  from 
their  lairs  in  the  distant  forest,  and  that  with  them  there 
crouched  low  before  the  monarch  wolves  and  leopards, 
together  with  the  fierce  wild  boar,  and  the  fleet-footed 
ass  of  the  desert.  A  strange  coronation  pageant,  surely! 

But  Kaimurs  was  loved  by  men,  as  well  as  beasts,  and 
so  he  prospered  and  grew  strong.  Unfortunately,  how- 
ever, he  had  one  very  powerful  enemy,  the  great  King  of 
the  Deevs,  who  ruled  over  Mazinderan,  a  province  to  the 
north  of  Kaimurs's  kingdom.  And  since  not  only  Kai- 
murs, but,  later  on,  many  other  of  the  Shahs  and  heroes  of 
Iran  were  called  upon,  again  and  again,  to  battle  with  this 
wily  race,  you  will  be  interested  to  hear  what  they  were  like. 

Well,  these  wicked  Deevs,  according  to  the  descriptions 
given  of  them,  appear  to  have  been  a  strange  mixture  of 
man,  and  animal,  and  evil  spirit.  They  walked  upright, 
like  men,  but  were  possessed  of  horns,  long  ears,  and  tails; 
and  many  of  them  are  described  as  cat-headed.  Great 
numbers  of  them  too  are  said  to  have  been  small  and  black, 
but  there  were  also  many  giants  among  them,  and  as  one 
and  all  of  them  were  past  masters  in  the  arts  of  sorcery 
and  enchantment,  it  required  very  great  courage  indeed  to 
fight  against  them,  since  in  battle  they  could,  at  will,  call 
up  whirlwinds  and  great  fires,  while  they,  themselves, 
could  vanish  whenever  it  pleased  them  to  do  so.  You  can 
easily  understand,  therefore,  that  it  took  the  courage  of  a 
real  hero  to  go  forth  to  battle  against  the  Deevs. 

This,  however,  Kaimurs's  subjects  were  called  upon  to 
do,  since  a  day  came  when  the  King  of  the  Deevs  sent  out 


KAVAH  THE   BLACKSMITH 


against  Iran  a  great  army  of  cat-headed  men,  giants,  and 
other  monsters  of  horrible  aspect,  with  the  command 
utterly  to  subdue  the  land.  Now  in  this  emergency,  the 
son  of  Kaimurs,  who  was  very  brave,  was  sent  at  the 
head  of  a  large  army  to  repulse  the  invading  host.  But 
alas!  the  young  prince  was  slain  at  the  very  beginning  of 
the  battle,  and  his  army  scattered  unto  the  four  winds. 
Then  was  Kaimurs  forced  to  flee,  and  Persia  was  given 
over  unto  the  Deevs. 

Now  long  and  bitterly  did  the  Shah  of  Iran  grieve  for 
the  loss  of  his  son,  and  the  overthrow  of  his  kingdom.  But 
presently,  in  the  far-off  cavern  where  he  lay  hid  from  his 
enemies,  he  heard  the  voice  of  the  Angel  Serosch,  which 
said  unto  him: 

"O  Beloved  of  Ormuzd,  come  forth  into  the  sunshine  of 
the  world,  for  lo!  victory  lieth  in  the  hands  of  thy  grand- 
son. Send  him  forth,  therefore,  to  grasp  it." 

So  Kaimurs  took  heart,  and  calling  before  him  his 
dearly  loved  grandson,  the  youthful  Husheng,  he  com- 
manded him  to  go  forth  to  meet  the  mighty  Deevs  in  the 
name  of  Ormuzd  the  Blessed,  who  promised  a  sure  victory 
unto  his  children. 

Before  going,  however,  Husheng,  who  was  wise,  as  well 
as  valiant  of  heart,  in  addition  to  his  loyal  subjects,  sum- 
moned to  his  assistance  all  the  wild  beasts  of  the  forests, 
and  even  the  birds  of  the  air,  whose  duty  it  was  to  confuse 
the  foe  by  flying  in  their  faces,  and  by  making  fearful 
swoops  at  their  eyes. 

A  strange  sight,  therefore,  must  have  been  Husheng's 
army,  when  drawn  up  in  battle  array;  but  a  yet  more  ter- 
rible thing  to  see  was  the  mighty  host  of  advancing  Deevs, 
enveloped  as  it  was  in  lurid  flames  and  clouds  of  smoke. 


10  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

But  the  sight  caused  brave  Husheng  not  a  tremor,  so  filled 
with  courage  and  the  certainty  of  victory  was  he. 

And,  in  the  fiercely  contested  battle  which  ensued,  so 
great  was  the  heroism  of  the  Persians,  inspired  as  they  were 
on  all  sides  by  their  brave  young  leader,  that  not  even  the 
Deevs  could  stand  before  them.  Husheng  himself,  also, 
performed  marvels  in  valor,  slaying  in  single  combat,  not 
only  the  King  of  the  Deevs,  but  also  the  most  important 
members  of  his  family.  Whereupon,  in  dismay,  the 
remnant  of  the  Deevs  betook  themselves  to  ignominious 
flight.  Howbeit,  few  escaped;  for,  by  the  orders  of 
Husheng,  they  were  pursued  by  the  tigers,  wolves,  and 
panthers,  which  tore  them  to  pieces  as  they  fled. 

It  was  indeed  a  glorious  victory,  and  as  a  result  of  it,  the 
kingdom  of  Persia  was  at  last  secure;  and  from  this  time 
forth,  under  Husheng's  mighty  sway,  civilization  grew 
apace,  reaching  at  last  a  climax  in  the  long  reign  of  Jem- 
shid,  who  was  grandson  of  the  valiant  Husheng. 

Now  it  is  related  of  Jemshid  that  for  seven  hundred 
years  he  sat  upon  the  throne  of  light,  during  which  time 
Persia  enjoyed  her  Golden  Age  of  prosperity.  And  not 
only  was  Jemshid  girt  about  with  power  and  glory,  but  the 
whole  world  was  happier  for  his  sake;  since,  smiled  upon 
by  Ormuzd,  during  all  this  period,  no  one  died  or  was  ill, 
and  the  King,  along  with  his  subjects,  remained  ever  in  the 
prime  of  youth  and  strength,  old  age,  death,  pain,  and 
sorrow  being  unknown. 

During  this  period,  also,  the  Deevs  were  subservient 
unto  the  great  Shah,  building  for  him  magnificent  palaces, 
inside  of  which  were  lofty  halls  with  springing  fountains, 
silken  carpets  covering  soft  divans  on  which  to  lie,  and 
walls  hung  with  pictures,  embroidered  silks,  and  jewelled 


KAVAH  THE  BLACKSMITH  11 

hangings,  all  of  which  were  fashioned  by  the  Genii.  They 
also  erected  for  Jemshid  a  most  glorious  throne,  upon 
which  they  transported  him  from  one  city  to  another  in  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye.  Now  so  gorgeously  beautiful  was  this 
throne  that  it  became  the  wonder  of  the  world. 

Jemshid,  however,  was  not  a  valiant  warrior  like  Hush- 
eng,  but  a  builder  of  civilization.  He  first  separated  men 
into  classes,  divided  the  year  into  periods,  encouraged 
building,  and  likewise  is  credited  with  the  discovery  of 
perfumes,  the  art  of  healing,  the  invention  of  ships,  and 
many  other  useful  means  of  benefiting  mankind.  It  was 
he  also  who  instituted  the  Neurouz,  or  New  Year,  at  the 
time  of  the  spring  solstice,  a  festival  still  celebrated  in 
Persia  with  many  ceremonies  during  ten  days. 

You  will  not  be  surprised  to  hear,  therefore,  that 
Jemshid's  power  increased  continually;  for,  learning  of 
his  wisdom  and  goodness,  men  flocked  unto  his  stand- 
ard from  all  corners  of  the  earth.  And  small  won- 
der, since  he  was  indeed  a  most  beneficent  and  glorious 
King.  But  alas!  the  time  came,  so  the  legends  tell  us, 
when  Jemshid's  head  was  turned  by  the  height  of  power 
that  he  had  reached.  Then  it  came  about  that  pride  took 
possession  of  the  heart  of  the  King,  and  he  forgot  unto 
whom  he  owed  his  power  and  the  source  of  his  blessings. 
It  is  even  said  that  the  time  came  when,  so  great  was  his 
arrogance,  he  beheld  only  himself  in  the  world,  and  he 
named  himself  God,  and  sent  forth  his  image  to  be 
worshipped. 

Alas  for  Jemshid!  When  the  Mubids,  who  are  astrol- 
ogers and  wise  men,  heard  this  decree  of  the  King,  they 
bowed  their  gray  heads  in  sorrow,  for  they  feared  that 
the  downfall  of  the  Shah  was  near,  since,  forgetting  his 


12  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Creator,  he  assumed  himself  to  be  the  sole  architect  of  his 
greatness.  But  their  words  of  wisdom  only  resulted  in 
driving  the  King,  who  seemed  possessed  of  an  evil  Deev, 
into  still  greater  folly. 

So  there  finally  came  a  day  when  Jemshid  commanded 
by  proclamation  that  all  his  subjects  should  assemble  in 
the  great  square  in  front  of  the  royal  palace,  and  there,  at 
the  appointed  hour,  a  wonderful  scene  took  place. 

Howbeit,  in  order  to  appreciate  what  happened,  you 
must  know  that  the  Deevs  had  made  of  the  royal  abode 
a  palace  like  unto  a  fairy  dream.  Indeed  yes;  for  all 
the  outside  walls,  we  are  told,  were  covered  with  beauti- 
fully painted  tiles,  while  the  many  windows  and  bal- 
conies were  made  of  fretted  stone  work,  encrusted  with 
cut  and  polished  glass,  so  that  the  whole  glorious  build- 
ing, whose  towers  seemed  almost  to  pierce  the  heavens, 
glittered  and  sparkled  as  though  besprinkled  with 
diamonds. 

But  in  front  of  the  beautiful  palace,  there  glittered 
something  still  more  gorgeous:  it  was  the  throne  of  the 
mighty  Jemshid,  studded,  not  with  glass,  but  with  every 
precious  stone  you  have  ever  heard  tell  of,  and  a  great 
many  that  you  have  not.  In  fact,  so  resplendent  was  it 
when  lit  up  by  the  brilliant  Eastern  sunshine,  that  it  be- 
came almost  too  dazzling  for  mortal  eyes. 

On  the  morning  in  question,  however,  the  gorgeous 
throne  was  empty,  though  about  it  were  stationed,  as 
guards,  a  great  company  of  cat-headed  Deevs,  gigantic 
Afreets,  and  fearsome-looking  Jinns;  while  the  magnifi- 
cent, jewel-studded  awning  was  held  in  place  by  graceful 
Peris,  a  kind  of  fairy.  All  of  which  indicated  that  the 
Shelter  of  the  Universe  would  soon  appear. 


KAVAH  THE  BLACKSMITH  13 

But  though  yet  quite  early,  already  every  inch  of  stand- 
ing room  in  the  great  square,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see, 
was  crowded  with  dark  faces  and  eager,  upturned  eyes. 
So  impatient  were  the  people  to  behold  the  Glory  of  the 
World  and  to  learn  his  purpose  in  so  calling  them  together! 

And  presently,  the  trumpets  having  been  sounded,  and 
the  tom-toms  beaten,  the  glorious  Jemshid  deigned  to 
gladden  the  eyes  of  his  loyal  subjects.  Slowly  he  mounted 
the  gorgeous  throne,  and,  as  he  did  so,  all  the  people  fell  on 
their  faces  before  him,  performing  obeisance.  As  they 
rose  to  their  feet,  however,  so  majestic  and  magnificent  was 
Jemshid's  presence  that,  with  one  accord,  the  people  burst 
forth  into  aloud  and  prolonged  "Bah!  Bah!"  of  admira- 
tion, which  form  of  expressing  astonishment  and  pleasure 
is  said  to  be  customary  among  the  Persians  still  to-day. 

But  you  must  hear  how  Jemshid  looked  to  cause  such 
a  "Bah!  Bah!"  of  approval.  Well,  to  begin  with,  the 
great  Shah  wore  many  silken  coats,  one  over  the  other, 
and  a  beautiful  fur  mantle  outside  all  the  rest.  As  for  his 
gorgeously  embroidered,  baggy  trousers,  behold,  they  were 
tight  at  the  ankles,  while  his  slippers  were  of  pure  gold. 
Yes,  and  upon  his  head  he  wore  an  immense,  many-colored 
turban,  in  the  front  of  which  blazed  a  huge  diamond,  set 
about  with  rubies  and  pearls.  As  for  the  rest,  he  was  tall, 
and  dark,  and  majestic,  looking  every  inch  a  king. 

As  he  raised  his  sceptre,  therefore,  commanding  silence, 
the  tumult  at  once  ceased,  while  all  awaited  breathlessly 
his  words.  But  the  great  Jemshid  merely  asked  his  people 
a  simple  question.  He  said: 

"Long,  long,  O  my  people,  have  you  basked  in  the  sun- 
shine of  a  Golden  Age.  Now  tell  me,  unto  whom  do  you 
owe  this  marvellous  prosperity?" 


14  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

In  response  to  this  query,  at  once  the  air  rang  with 
shouts  of,  "Hail  unto  Ormuzd  the  Blessed!  Hail  unto 
the  great  God  of  the  Persians!" 

Alas!  This  was  not  the  reply  that  the  arrogant  Jemshid 
had  desired  or  expected,  so  with  a  frown  as  black  as  the 
cloud  of  smoke  which  one  could  see  curling  lazily  up  into 
the  blue  from  the  great  volcano  Demavend,  not  far  dis- 
tant, the  great  Shah  thundered  forth  at  his  people: 

"O  Foolish  Ones,  blind  as  moles  or  worms,  know  you 
not,  then,  that  there  is  but  one  God  of  the  Persians,  even 
Jemshid  the  Glorious  ?  Bow  the  knee  unto  him,  therefore, 
and  not  unto  Ormuzd." 

Now  the  wonder  of  such  arrogance  held  the  great  crowd 
breathless  for  one  intense  moment;  then,  suddenly,  a 
shiver  ran  through  the  vast  multitude,  and  the  cry  went 
up:  "Demavend!  Look  at  Demavend!  The  volcano! 
Oh,  the  volcano!"  Then  all  eyes  turned  unto  the  moun- 
tain. And  lo!  the  snow-covered  crest  was  all  aglow  with 
dusky  red,  while  a  huge  black  cloud  issued  from  the  crater, 
and  moved  with  lightning  speed  down  toward  the  plain, 
finally  hovering  like  a  great  black  bird  of  ill  omen  over  the 
awe-struck  people,  who  turned  in  their  terror  for  aid  unto 
Jemshid. 

But  in  vain,  for  even  as  his  subjects  gazed  upon  him,  the 
grandeur  and  glory  of  the  proud  king  vanished  as  if  by 
magic.  There  was  no  thunder  and  no  lightning,  but  sud- 
denly, without  a  sign  of  warning,  the  gorgeous  palace  fell 
silently  into  a  heap  of  unsightly  ruins;  the  gem-studded 
throne,  the  wonder  and  glory  of  the  world,  crumbled  into 
a  heap  of  worthless  dust;  and  Jemshid's  royal  robes  be- 
came fluttering  rags,  such  as  the  very  beggars  of  the  streets 
would  disdain. 


KAVAH  THE   BLACKSMITH  15 

However,  this  was  not  the  most  terrible  thing  that  hap- 
pened upon  that  eventful  day,  for  along  the  ground  glided 
venomous  snakes  and  loathsome  lizards,  which  quickly 
sprang  up  out  of  the  ruins,  while  down  from  the  black 
clouds  there  rained  a  veritable  army  of  huge  scorpions, 
tarantulas,  and  swiftly  running  centipedes. 

Now  it  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  very  soon  these  loath- 
some creatures  had  the  great  square  to  themselves,  for 
verily  in  their  mad  terror  and  anxiety  to  escape,  the  people 
fairly  flew  from  the  spot.  And  thus  ended  their  allegiance 
to  Jemshid,  for  recognizing  in  the  day's  happenings  a  sure 
sign  of  the  displeasure  of  Ormuzd  the  Blessed,  they  cried 
out  in  their  anger  that  they  would  no  longer  obey  Jemshid 
as  their  Shah,  since  through  his  pride  and  presumption 
he  had  forfeited  the  favor  of  the  Almighty. 

So  it  happened  that  the  people  of  Iran  and  Turan, 
having  heard  that  in  the  land  of  Arabia  there  reigned 
a  monarch  mighty  and  terrible  unto  his  foes,  now  turned 
unto  Zohak,  and  Jemshid,  fleeing  upon  his  milk-white 
charger  before  the  Arab  host,  became  a  wanderer  upon  the 
face  of  the  earth,  without  a  friend,  and  with  many  foes. 
And  Zohak,  the  Serpent  King,  ruled  in  his  stead. 

But  though  the  royal  wanderer  carried  a  high  price 
upon  his  head,  the  chronicles  relate  that  for  the  space  of 
twice  fifty  years  no  man  knew  whither  he  was  gone,  for 
he  hid  from  the  wrath  of  the  Serpent  King.  Howbeit,  such 
was  the  zeal  of  his  enemy,  that  in  the  course  of  time  Jemshid 
could  no  longer  escape  the  spies  of  Zohak,  who  finally  capt- 
ured him,  as  he  wandered  upon  the  shores  of  far  Cathay, 
and  brought  him  in  triumph  before  the  Serpent  King. 

Yea,  like  the  narcissus  bent  with  heavy  dew,  oppressed 
with  shame,  his  hands  behind  his  back,  and  ponderous 


16  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

chains  passing  from  neck  to  feet,  thus  stood  before  the 
cruel  King  the  once  so  glorious  Jemshid.  But  alas!  the 
sorry  sight  awakened  in  the  breast  of  Zohak  not  the 
lightest  thrill  of  pity  as,  gazing  with  a  scornful  smile  upon 
the  fallen  monarch,  tauntingly  he  said : 

"O  Lord  of  the  World,  and  Heaven,  behold  thy  wor- 
shippers at  thy  feet!  But — where  is  thy  diadem?  thy 
throne  ?  Where  is  thy  kingdom  now  ?  Where  thy  sover- 
eign power  ?  Alas,  I  see  them  not ! " 

At  this  cruel  speech,  the  drooping  figure  straightened, 
and  kingly  Jemshid,  gazing  unflinchingly  into  the  serpent 
eyes  of  his  tormentor,  thus  calmly  spoke : 

"O  Serpent-haunted  One,  unjustly  am  I  brought  in 
chains  before  thee,  betrayed,  insulted — thou  the  cause  of 
all.  Feign  not,  therefore,  to  feel  my  wrongs,  but  work  thy 
cruel  will,  and  thou  shalt  see  that  still  I  am  a  King." 

Imagine  Zohak's  rage  at  this  defiance  mixed  with  royal 
scorn!  His  inward  fury!  Though  smiling,  still  he  said: 

"Most  Kingly  King,  bereft  of  throne  and  power,  one 
thing  at  least  remaineth  yet  unto  thee :  to  choose  the  man- 
ner of  thy  passing.  Shall  I  behead  thee,  stab  thee,  impale 
thee,  or  with  an  arrow's  point  transfix  thy  heart?  What 
is  thy  kingly  choice?" 

Now  seeing  the  evil  intent  of  the  King,  and  scorning  to 
cringe  before  a  thing  so  base,  Jemshid,  raising  high  his 
royal  head  and  smiling  proudly,  said: 

"O  Slave  of  Iblis,  since  I  am  in  thy  power,  do  with  me 
what  thou  wilt.  Why  should  I  dread  thy  utmost  ven- 
geance? Why  express  a  wish  to  save  my  body  from  a 
moment's  pain?  True,  I  have  lived  too  long,  but  Jem- 
shid's  memory  in  the  world  will  live,  undimmed  by  thee." 

Then  Zohak,  realizing  from  these  words  that  it  was  not 


KAVAH  THE  BLACKSMITH  17 

in  his  power  to  break  the  spirit  of  proud  Jemshid,  resolved 
upon  a  most  horrible  deed  of  vengeance.  Ordering,  forth- 
with, that  two  planks  be  brought,  the  royal  prisoner  was 
fastened  between  them,  and  his  body  divided  the  whole 
length  with  a  saw,  making  two  figures  of  Jemshid  out  of 
one. 

So  perished  the  great  Jemshid,  because  he  was  pre- 
sumptuous, and  in  his  pride  would  have  lifted  himself 
above  his  Maker.  But  the  good  deeds  which  he  wrought 
in  the  first  half  of  his  reign  have  caused  his  name  to  live, 
and  even  to-day  the  Persians  look  back  with  pride  unto  the 
splendor  of  their  country  in  the  days  when  the  great  Shah 
Jemshid  sat  upon  the  throne  of  light,  comparing  it  with 
the  glory  of  King  Solomon. 

But  Persia  groaned  under  the  tyranny  of  Zohak,  who 
day  by  day  continued  to  pile  evil  upon  evil  until  the  meas- 
ure thereof  was  full  unto  overflowing,  and  darkness  had 
settled  over  all  the  land  because  of  his  wickedness.  Shed- 
ding blood  had  now  become  the  evil  King's  pastime,  and 
he  hesitated  not  at  committing  every  species  of  crime, 
until  despair  filled  all  hearts. 

"The  serpents  still  on  human  brains  were  fed, 
And  every  day  two  youthful  victims  bled; 
The  sword,  still  ready,  thirsting  still  to  strike, 
Warrior  and  slave  were  sacrificed  alike." 

Howbeit,  things  could  not  go  on  thus  forever,  and  so,  in 
the  course  of  time,  thanks  unto  Ormuzd,  there  sprang  forth 
from  among  the  Persians  a  hero  who  should  avenge  the 
wrongs  of  his  countrymen,  and  add  new  lustre  unto  the 
glory  of  Persia.  And  of  this  you  shall  hear. 

For  behold,  it  happened  that,  all  unheeded  by  Zohak, 
there  lived  in  his  dominion  at  this  time  a  man  named 


18  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Kavah,  a  blacksmith,  remarkably  strong  and  brave,  and 
possessing  a  large  family  of  fair  sons,  who  were  the  joy  of 
his  life.  One  by  one,  however,  they  were  taken  from  him 
to  be  killed  to  feed  the  King's  serpents,  until  but  one 
remained  unto  him,  and  finally  the  lot  fell  also  unto  this 
last  of  his  sons  to  meet  a  like  death.  Then  Kavah  arose 
in  his  wrath  and  sought  the  court  of  the  Shah. 

But  you  will  not  be  surprised  to  learn  that  about  this 
same  time,  Zohak  was  having  evil  dreams;  and  so,  op- 
pressed by  terrors  of  conscience,  he  called  together  an 
assembly  of  his  nobles,  and  insisted  that  they  sign  a  docu- 
ment asserting  that  he,  Zohak,  had  ever  been  unto  Persia 
a  just,  wise,  and  beneficent  King.  And  behold,  it  was  even 
as  this  remarkable  paper  was  being  signed  that  the  cry  of 
one  who  demanded  justice  was  heard  at  the  gates. 

Wishing  to  show  unto  his  nobles,  therefore,  that  he 
stood  ever  eager  to  do  justice,  Zohak  commanded  that  the 
petitioner  be  brought  immediately  into  the  audience-room. 
And  lo!  Kavah,  the  avenger,  stood  before  the  King,  and 
the  assembly  of  the  nobles.  Now  so  terrible  was  the 
aspect  of  this  deeply  wronged  man  that,  for  a  moment,  all 
gazed  at  him  in  wonder.  Then  Zohak,  the  Serpent  King, 
opened  his  mouth  and  thus  addressed  the  sturdy  Kavah: 

"O  Brawny  One,  I  charge  thee  give  a  name  unto  him 
who  hath  done  thee  wrong!" 

Then  Kavah,  knowing  by  the  two  writhing  serpents 
that  it  was  the  Shah  who  questioned  him,  smote  his  head 
with  his  hands  and  uttered  a  savage  cry.  But,  by  a  mighty 
effort,  regaining  his  self-control,  he  once  more  faced  the 
King  calmly,  as  he  said: 

"O  Serpent  King,  thou  beholdest  before  thee  Kavah  the 
blacksmith,  a  blameless  man,  who  hath  come  into  thy 


KAVAH  THE  BLACKSMITH  19 

presence  to  sue  for  justice.  And  lo!  it  is  against  thee, 
O  King,  that  I  raise  my  cry,  and  with  reason.  Seventeen 
brave  sons  have  I  called  mine,  yet  to-day  but  one  remain- 
eth  alive,  and  even  now  the  mouths  of  thy  brain-devouring 
serpents  yawn  to  feed  upon  him  also,  to  still  their  demon 
hunger.  Thou  art  the  King,  'tis  true,  but  why  on  innocent 
heads  cast  fire  and  ashes?  If  Iblis,  for  thy  evil  deeds, 
hath  given  unto  thee  the  form  of  hissing  dragon,  why  to 
me  be  cruel  ?  Why  give  the  brains  of  my  fair  sons  as  ser- 
pent food,  and  then  dare  prate  of  doing  justice?  But  thy 
doom  is  fixed,  thou  Cruel  One,  and  even  now  the  avenger's 
hand  is  at  the  door.  Behold,  and  tremble!" 

Now  so  fierce  and  sudden  was  this  assault  that  Zohak, 
appalled  by  the  rage  and  sorrow  of  a  father  whose  lan- 
guage sounded  indeed  like  a  cry  of  doom,  at  once  ordered 
that  the  son  of  Kavah  be  brought  forth  and  restored  unto 
him.  Then,  regaining  somewhat  his  arrogance,  he  bade 
the  brawny  smith  inscribe  his  name  upon  the  lying  regis- 
ter, already  signed  by  some  of  the  mightiest  nobles  of 
the  land. 

But  Kavah,  when  he  learned  the  purport  of  the  register, 
hesitated  not,  but  turned  wrathfully  upon  the  assembled 
nobles,  crying  indignantly: 

"O  Feeble-hearted  Ones,  are  you  then  men,  or  what, 
leagued  with  this  human  monster  ?  Only  a  common  man 
am  I,  and  yet  never  will  I  lend  my  hand  unto  such  a  lie, 
and  no  more  shall  you,  nobles  though  you  be!" 

Seizing  the  hated  register,  therefore,  to  the  astonishment 
of  all,  Kavah  tore  it  fiercely  into  bits,  and  trampled  it 
under  his  feet  with  rage  and  scorn.  Then,  pausing  not, 
he  strode  forth  from  the  palace,  taking  his  rescued  son 
with  him.  And  so  majestic  and  fearless  was  his  bearing  as 


20  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

he  passed,  that  none,  not  even  the  King,  dared  raise  a 
finger  to  detain  him. 

So,  feeling  that  at  last  the  time  had  come  for  action, 
from  the  palace,  Kavah  went  straight  unto  the  market- 
place. Here  he  rehearsed  unto  the  people  what  wrongs 
the  nation  suffered,  urging  them  to  shake  off  the  yoke  of 
the  cruel  Serpent  King,  who  was  not  even  of  their  land. 
And  so  confident  of  success  was  Kavah,  so  eloquent  and  so 
brave,  that  multitudes,  whose  children  had  been  sacrificed 
unto  the  brain-devouring  vipers,  flocked  eagerly  about 
the  blacksmith,  shouting  madly:  "Justice!  Give  us 
justice!" 

Then  Kavah,  feeling  the  need  of  a  standard  about 
which  the  people  might  rally,  took  off  the  leathern  apron 
wherewith  blacksmiths  cover  their  knees  when  they  strike 
with  the  hammer,  and,  raising  it  aloft  upon  the  point  of 
a  lance,  cried  out  joyously : 

"  Behold,  O  my  countrymen,  the  banner  which  shall 
lead  us  on  to  victory,  delivering  us  from  out  the  hands  of 
the  cruel  Serpent  King." 

Then  a  glorious  shout,  the  music  of  which  reached  even 
unto  the  palace,  went  up  from  the  people,  who  thronged 
eagerly  about  their  brave  and  brawny  leader,  mad  for 
revenge.  So  Kavah  led  them  forth  from  the  city  bearing 
aloft  his  standard — that  standard  which,  later  on,  adorned 
with  gold  and  jewels,  and  called  the  "Flag  of  Kavah," 
became  a  sacred  symbol,  honored  by  every  Persian  king 
in  succeeding  generations  as  the  true  sign  of  royalty. 

But  Kavah  knew  that  not  unto  him  was  it  given  to  be 
the  real  liberator  of  Persia  from  the  tyranny  of  Zohak. 
He  had  kindled  the  flame  of  revolt,  but  a  greater  than  he 
must  make  of  the  spark  a  devouring  fire.  Howbeit,  the 


KAVAH  THE  BLACKSMITH  21 

hero  was  ready,  as  you  shall  hear,  thanks  unto  Serosch, 
the  blessed  Angel  of  Pity. 

For  you  must  know  that  this  angel,  who  each  night  flieth 
seven  times  around  the  earth  in  order  to  watch  over  the 
children  of  Ormuzd,  saw  and  was  moved  with  compassion 
for  the  sufferings  of  the  people;  and  so,  presently,  a  grand- 
son was  born  unto  Jemshid,  whose  horoscope  decreed  that 
he  should  not  only  be  the  deliverer  of  his  country,  but 
should  reign  long  and  gloriously  upon  the  throne  of  light. 
And  this  Kavah  knew,  for  the  Blessed  Angel  had  made  it 
known  unto  him  in  a  dream,  after  he  had  proved  himself 
brave  and  fearless  of  heart. 

And  since  the  Orientals  say  that  a  secret  known  unto 
two  is  one  no  longer,  you,  too,  shall  know  that  the  name 
of  the  coming  hero  was  Feridoun.  But  of  how,  by  his 
splendid  deeds,  he  earned  for  himself  the  title  of  "The 
Glorious,"  you  must  hear  in  another  story. 


FERIDOUN  THE  GLORIOUS 

UPON  a  starry  night,  during  the  festival  of  roses, 
long,  long  ago  in  the  land  of  Persia,  the  Angel 
Serosch,  flying  through  the  night,  brought  unto 
the  home  of  Abtin,  son  of  Jemshid,  a  charming  babe,  des- 
tined for  mighty  deeds.    Now  the  name  of  the  child  was 
Feridoun,  and  it  is  related  that  upon  the  night  of  his  birth 
Zohak,  the  Serpent  King,  had  a  terrible  dream,  which  you 
shall  hear. 

Behold,  it  came  to  pass  that  as  the  King  lay  upon  the 
royal  couch,  suddenly,  in  his  sleep,  he  felt  himself  attacked 
by  three  warriors,  two  of  them  of  powerful  stature,  but 
the  third  a  mere  youth,  slender  like  unto  a  young  cypress. 
In  his  hands  the  stripling  bare  a  huge,  cow-headed  mace, 
and  with  it  he  felled  Zohak  pitilessly  to  the  ground.  And 
useless  was  all  resistance,  for  though  the  frenzied  monarch 
struggled  madly,  the  doughty  youth  bound  his  hands,  and 
casting  a  rope  about  his  neck,  dragged  him  rudely  along 
in  the  presence  of  crowds  of  hooting,  gibing  people.  Now 
at  this  crisis,  so  great  was  the  King's  anguish  that,  scream- 
ing horribly,  he  awoke.  And  lo!  it  was  all  a  dream. 

But  in  those  times  dreams  were  considered  portentous; 
so  now  Zohak,  springing  up  terror-stricken  from  his  bed, 
hastily  called  together  his  Mubids,  although  it  was  still  the 
dead  of  night,  and,  having  related  unto  them  the  particulars 
of  his  frightful  experience,  he  demanded  a  faithful  inter- 
pretation of  his  dream. 

22 


FERIDOUN  THE  GLORIOUS  23 

Now  the  Mubids  saw  in  this  vision  the  approaching 
overthrow  of  the  tyrant,  but  they  were  afraid  to  tell  the 
truth  unto  Zohak,  fearing  for  their  lives.  So  three  days 
were  allowed  to  pass  under  the  pretence  of  studying  more 
scrupulously  the  signs,  and  still  no  one  had  the  courage  to 
speak  out.  Then  the  King  grew  angry,  and  in  this  dilem- 
ma, Zirek,  one  of  the  wise  men,  finally  stood  boldly  forth 
and  said: 

"O  Lord  of  the  World,  much  we  deplore  it,  but  the  stars 
foretell  for  thee  a  bitter  fate,  since  thy  dream  announces 
the  coming  of  a  great  and  glorious  prince,  who  shall  hurl 
thee  from  thy  throne,  and  bind  thee  in  chains  upon  the 
mountains.  Feridoun  is  his  name,  and  he  shall  add  lustre 
unto  the  house  of  Jemshid,  and  unto  the  land  of  Persia, 
though  naught  but  woe  shall  he  bring  unto  the  Ser- 
pent King,  whose  day  is  already  darkening  into  endless 
night." 

Alas  for  the  King!  Hearing  this  interpretation  of  his 
dream,  he  fell  senseless  upon  the  ground,  and  the  Mubids 
fled  from  before  his  wrath.  Now  long  he  lay  as  one  dead, 
and  when  consciousness  did  finally  return  unto  him,  he 
could  neither  eat  nor  sleep,  but  continued  overwhelmed 
with  fear  and  misery.  And  from  this  time  forth,  the  leg- 
ends say,  Zohak  knew  neither  rest  nor  joy,  the  light  of  his 
day  being  already  darkened. 

But  instead  of  checking  the  King  in  his  evil  course,  this 
experience  seems  only  to  have  stimulated  him  to  further 
cruelty.  For,  warned  by  the  prophecy  of  the  Mubids, 
Zohak  now  issued  a  decree  that  every  person  belonging 
unto  the  race  of  Jemshid,  wherever  found,  should  be 
seized  and  fettered  and  brought  to  him;  for  he  hoped  thus 
to  secure  the  fateful  prince  of  his  dream.  Sending  out  his 


24  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

spies  everywhere,  therefore,  he  caused  the  world  to  be 
scoured  for  Feridoun,  but  in  vain. 

Nevertheless,  the  young  prince  was  passing  his  first 
baby  days  peacefully  in  the  King's  dominions,  watched 
over  tenderly  by  his  father  and  mother,  and  daily  growing 
in  strength  that  should  fit  him  to  carry  out  the  noble  task 
assigned  unto  him  by  Providence. 

For  Abtin,  the  father  of  Feridoun,  knowing  of  the 
King's  decree  in  regard  to  the  race  of  Jemshid,  had 
avoided  discovery  by  continuing  to  reside  in  the  most  re- 
tired and  solitary  places;  but  one  day  his  usual  caution 
forsook  him,  and  he  ventured  beyond  the  limits  of  safety. 
Now  this  was  most  unfortunate  at  this  time,  for  Zohak 
had  learned  of  the  glorious  son  born  unto  Abtin,  and  his 
spies  were  everywhere  searching  for  him.  Abtin's  impru- 
dence, therefore,  was  dreadfully  punished,  for,  being  recog- 
nized, he  was  carried  before  the  King,  in  whose  presence 
he  was  foully  slain. 

But  not  so  was  Zohak  to  secure  the  desire  of  his  heart, 
for  when  Faranuk,  the  mother  of  Feridoun,  heard  of  the 
dreadful  catastrophe  which  had  befallen  her  husband,  at 
once  she  took  up  her  infant  and  fled,  pausing  for  naught. 
Then,  footsore  and  weary,  her  heart  torn  with  fear  and 
sorrow,  day  after  day  this  brave  young  mother  kept  up  her 
flight,  traversing  burning  sands  and  dark,  demon-haunted 
forests,  seeking  a  place  of  safety  for  baby  Feridoun,  who, 
realizing  not  his  peril,  cooed  and  laughed  and  slept,  always 
clasped  close  in  his  mother's  arms. 

Finally,  one  evening  just  as  the  sun  was  kissing  the 
world  good  night,  away  in  the  depths  of  the  forest  Fara- 
nuk came  upon  a  beautiful  spot  of  pasture  ground.  And 
presently,  the  soft  tinkle,  tinkle  of  a  bell  falling  upon  her 


FERIDOUN  THE  GLORIOUS  25 

ear,  she  hastened  forward,  and  behold!  an  old,  old  man, 
gentle  of  face  and  mien,  milked  a  wondrous  cow,  whose 
hairs  were  like  unto  the  plumes  of  a  peacock  for  beauty. 
Now  the  name  of  this  cow  of  remarkable  lineage  was 
Purmajeh,  and  the  keeper  of  the  pasture  gave  away  in 
charity  the  abundance  of  milk  which  she  supplied. 

Gently  accosting  the  old  man,  therefore,  Faranuk  was 
assured  a  welcome;  and  so  here  she  rested  for  the  night, 
thinking  to  continue  her  flight  in  the  morning.  But,  as 
a  consequence  of  the  grief  and  distress  of  mind  which  she 
had  suffered,  the  poor  mother  was  unable  to  supply  her 
child  with  food,  and  so,  urged  by  the  gentle  old  man,  she 
decided  to  remain  in  this  quiet  retreat  for  a  time,  at  least. 

But,  continually  afraid  of  being  discovered  and  recog- 
nized, Faranuk  knew  not  a  moment's  peace.  Finally,  it 
was  borne  in  upon  her,  she  knew  not  how,  that  it  would 
be  safer  for  little  Feridoun  if  she  were  not  with  him,  and 
so,  resigning  him  to  the  protection  of  God,  she  left  the 
pasture,  and  continued  her  flight  alone  unto  Mount  Alborz. 

Now  the  keeper  of  the  pasture,  into  whose  care  the 
mother  had  confided  her  little  one,  cherished  the  child  with 
the  fondness  and  affection  of  a  most  devoted  parent;  and 
so,  for  three  happy  years,  Feridoun  rolled  and  tumbled  in 
the  pasture,  and  Purmajeh  was  his  nurse.  A  wondrous 
playfellow,  also,  was  Purmajeh,  and  well  indeed  was  it  for 
Persia  that  the  baby  shouts  of  glee  reached  not  unto  the 
ears  of  the  Serpent  King. 

But  better  still  was  it  that  Feridoun  was  in  the  guar- 
dianship of  Ormuzd,  and  that  Serosch,  his  messenger, 
neither  slumbered  nor  slept.  For  it  happened  that  one 
night,  the  Angel  of  Pity,  resting  for  a  moment  upon  the 
battlements  of  Zohak's  palace,  after  having  flown  seven 


PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 


times  around  the  world,  heard  issue  thence  a  fiendish  laugh 
of  triumph,  which  sent  the  Gentle-hearted  One  speeding 
upon  swift  wings  toward  Mount  Alborz.  And  there, 
Faranuk,  thinking  that  she  dreamed,  listened  unto  the 
voice  of  the  Angel,  which  warned  her  that  Feridoun  was  no 
longer  safe  in  the  pasture. 

As  the  morning  dawned,  therefore,  Faranuk,  with  swift 
feet,  hastened  back  unto  the  forest  hiding-place,  confiding 
unto  the  gentle  old  man  of  the  pasture  her  intention  of 
conveying  Feridoun  unto  a  safer  place  of  refuge  upon 
Mount  Alborz.  But  the  keeper,  who  loved  Feridoun  above 
all  else  in  the  world,  remonstrated  with  the  young  mother, 
saying  sorrowfully  unto  her: 

"Why,  O  Faranuk,  dost  thou  take  the  child  unto  the 
mountain?  Alas!  he  will  surely  perish  there,  while  here 
he  is  so  happy!" 

But  Faranuk  dared  not  disregard  the  warning  of  the 
Angel  Serosch,  and  so,  comforting  the  old  man,  with  her 
boy  in  her  arms  she  once  more  took  up  her  flight.  And 
wise  was  she  in  doing  so,  for  intelligence  had  reached 
Zohak  that  the  young  prince  was  being  nourished  and 
protected  by  the  keeper  of  the  pasture,  and,  like  a  hungry 
tiger,  he  was  preparing  to  spring  upon  his  prey. 

That  same  day,  therefore,  at  the  head  of  a  force  of 
picked  men,  he  proceeded  secretly  unto  the  pasture,  hop- 
ing to  surprise  the  keeper,  and  thus  secure  the  Prince. 
But  once  more  his  prey  had  escaped  him,  and  when  he 
discovered  this,  verily,  he  was  like  unto  a  mad  elephant  in 
his  fury.  For,  not  only  did  he  cruelly  slay  the  keeper  of 
the  pasture,  and  the  wondrous  cow  Purmajeh,  but  so  great 
was  his  frenzy  that  he  stopped  not  until  he  had  slain  every 
living  thing  around  about,  and  made  of  the  beautiful 


FERIDOUN  THE  GLORIOUS  27 

spot  a  desert.  And  this  done,  diligently  he  continued  his 
search,  but  neither  sight  nor  tidings  could  he  get  of  Feri- 
doun,  and  his  heart  was  filled  with  rage  and  despair. 

Now  upon  Mount  Alborz  at  this  time  there  dwelt  a 
pious  hermit,  and  unto  him  Faranuk  committed  her  boy, 
informing  the  old  man  that  her  son  was  destined  for 
mighty  deeds.  So,  being  gladly  welcomed,  from  this  time 
forth  the  mother  and  child  abode  with  the  pious  old 
recluse,  who  generously  divided  with  them  all  the  food 
and  comforts  which  God  gave  him,  at  the  same  time,  as 
Feridoun  grew  older,  developing  and  storing  his  mind 
with  various  kinds  of  knowledge.  Yea,  and  he  also  con- 
sulted the  Books  of  Fate  concerning  him,  after  which  he 
said  unto  Faranuk: 

"O  woman,  I  perceive  that  the  Prince  foretold  by  wise 
men  and  astrologers  as  the  destroyer  of  Zohak  and  his 
tyranny,  is  thy  son.  Rejoice,  therefore,  and  be  glad  of 
heart,  for 

"This  child  to  whom  thou  gavest  birth, 
Will  be  the  monarch  of  the  earth." 

But  Faranuk's  heart  was  filled,  not  only  with  joy,  but 
also  with  foreboding,  upon  hearing  her  own  convictions 
thus  confirmed,  for  well  she  knew  and  dreaded  the  fearful 
power  of  Zohak.  Nevertheless,  her  days  were  happy,  for 
had  she  not  her  boy  still  with  her  ?  And  was  he  not  under 
the  sheltering  care  of  the  Almighty  ? 

But  the  years  tarried  not,  and  so  when  twice  eight  sum- 
mers had  passed  over  the  head  of  Feridoun,  he  was  no 
longer  a  child,  but  a  bright,  handsome  youth  of  sixteen, 
strong  and  valiant  of  heart.  Then  one  day  he  sought  out 
his  mother,  and  questioned  her  as  to  his  lineage.  So 
Faranuk,  seeing  that  the  time  was  ripe,  told  unto  her  son 


28  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

stories  of  Iran  and  the  Shahs  of  Old;  of  the  valiant 
Husheng;  of  the  glorious  reign  of  Jemshid,  his  illustrious 
grandsire;  of  the  cruel  Serpent  King;  and,  last  of  all,  of  his 
father's  tragic  fate. 

Now  Feridoun  listened  intently  unto  his  mother's  tales; 
then,  standing  up  straight  and  tall,  with  blazing  eyes  and 
flushed  cheeks,  he  said  unto  Faranuk: 

"O  my  mother,  verily  I  will  uproot  this  monster  from 
the  earth!  Yea,  I,  Feridoun,  will  cause  his  name  to  be 
blotted  from  the  Book  of  Kings,  so  that  soon  he  shall  be 
no  more  than  an  evil  memory  in  the  world.  For  long 
enough  hath  Iran  groaned  under  his  tyranny,  and  too  long 
hath  my  father's  blood  cried  for  vengeance." 

But  Faranuk,  troubled  because  of  the  blaze  she  had 
kindled,  replied  warningly  unto  Feridoun,  saying  gently: 

"O  Pearl  of  my  Heart,  let  not  thy  youthful  anger  be- 
tray thee;  for  how  canst  thou,  friendless  and  alone,  stand 
against  the  master  of  the  world?  Be  not,  therefore,  pre- 
cipitate. If  it  be  thy  destiny  to  overcome  this  tyrant,  in 
due  time  the  Almighty  will  bless  thee  with  means  sufficient 
for  the  purpose.  Wait,  therefore,  for  the  sign." 

But  his  mother's  words  of  caution  found  no  echo  in  the 
heart  of  this  youth  who,  hearing  for  the  first  time  of  the 
cruel  monster  who  had  robbed  him  of  a  father,  and  made 
of  his  mother's  life  that  of  the  hunted,  would  hear  of 
naught  but  the  immediate  overthrow  of  the  tyrant.  There- 
fore he  replied  unto  Faranuk: 

"'Tis  Heaven  inspires  me,  mother,  therefore  be  not  so 
fearful.  As  for  the  Serpent  King,  not  even  he,  with  all  his 
demon  host,  can  stand  against  a  valiant  heart  and  a  sturdy 
arm,  guided  by  the  great  God  of  the  Persians.  Wherefore, 
then,  delay?" 


FERIDOUN  THE  GLORIOUS  29 

Howbeit,  though  glorying  in  the  spirit  of  her  son,  Far- 
anuk  still  tried  to  dissuade  him  from  immediate  action,  but 
in  vain;  for,  even  while  she  spake,  a  mighty  throng  was  seen 
approaching  Alborz,  led  by  one  who  bore  aloft,  as  a  stand- 
ard, an  apron  uplifted  upon  a  lance.  Then  both  mother 
and  son  knew  that  the  time  for  action  was  at  hand,  and 
glad  was  Kavah's  welcome.  And  presently,  Feridoun,  the 
helmet  of  Kings  upon  his  head,  sought  once  more  his 
mother's  presence,  saying  proudly  unto  her: 

"Behold,  O  my  mother,  thy  warrior-son,  who  goeth 
forth  unto  the  battle  against  the  mighty  Zohak!  Unto  him 
it  is  given  to  fight,  but  it  remaineth  unto  thee  to  pray  God 
for  our  safety,  and  for  victory." 

So  Faranuk,  understanding,  as  she  gazed,  that  it  was 
useless  to  try  longer  to  hold  this  bold  young  eaglet  in  the 
mountain  eyrie,  since  he  sensed  power  in  his  wings,  blessed 
her  son,  bidding  him  go  forth  in  the  name  of  God  to  free 
his  country,  and  to  avenge  his  father's  death. 

But,  before  going,  Feridoun  caused  to  be  made  for  him 
a  mighty  club,  the  pattern  of  which  he  traced  for  Kavah 
upon  the  ground;  and  the  top  thereof  was  the  head  of  a 
cow,  in  memory  of  Purmajeh,  his  nurse.  He  also  did 
honor  unto  the  standard  of  Kavah,  causing  it  to  be  en- 
cased in  rich  brocades  of  Roum  and  hung  about  with 
jewels.  Then,  when  all  was  ready,  the  little  company  set 
forth  toward  the  west  to  seek  Zohak,  the  two  elder  broth- 
ers of  Feridoun  accompanying  them. 

Now  Faranuk,  when  she  beheld  her  warrior-sons  in  full 
battle  array,  looking  so  brave  and  splendid,  wept  with 
pride  and  joy;  but  fear  was  in  her  heart  too,  and  her  every 
breath  was  a  prayer  unto  Ormuzd,  imploring  his  blessing 
upon  the  great  undertaking. 


30  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

But  fear  was  far  from  the  heart  of  gallant  young  Feri- 
doun  as,  at  the  head  of  his  brave  followers,  he  rode  forth 
upon  his  patriotic  mission.  The  way  was  rough,  the  men 
poorly  equipped,  but  their  hearts  were  full  of  courage  and 
hope,  and  new  recruits  were  added  daily. 

Nor  was  the  sign  of  God's  blessing  withheld.  For,  one 
evening,  in  the  course  of  their  progress,  as  the  valiant  host 
neared  the  place  where  it  was  to  camp  for  the  night,  sud- 
denly, upon  the  heights  above  them,  they  beheld  a  shrine, 
or  place  of  pilgrims,  erected  for  the  worshippers  of  Or- 
muzd.  Placed  upon  a  grassy  slope,  high  above  the  turmoil 
of  the  road,  the  spot  seemed  to  breathe  peace  and  serenity; 
so  much  so,  indeed,  that,  coming  upon  it  unexpectedly, 
a  hush  fell  upon  the  horsemen  as  they  gazed;  for,  bathed  in 
the  glory  of  the  sunset,  a  touch  of  solemnity  thrown  about 
it  by  the  stately  old  cypresses  whose  heads  soared  majes- 
tically up  into  the  blue,  it  seemed  indeed  a  place  in  which 
God  might  delight  to  meet  his  people. 

Profoundly  impressed  by  the  beauty  and  sacredness  of 
the  spot,  Feridoun  decided  at  once  to  visit  the  shrine,  since 
he  felt  the  need  of  inspiration  and  guidance.  And  in  re- 
sponse to  his  prayers,  it  is  recorded  that  there  appeared 
unto  him  a  radiant  Angel  who  foretold  unto  him  the 
varied  fortunes  he  was  to  encounter,  and  bestowed  upon 
him  a  magic  power  that  should  enable  him  to  overcome 
the  wiles  of  his  foes.  And  so  radiant  was  the  vision  that, 
when  the  hero  returned  from  the  shrine,  all  noticed  his 
changed  appearance. 

"Bright  beamed  his  eye,  with  firmer  step  he  strode, 
His  smiling  cheek  with  warmer  crimson  glowed." 

But  alas!  When  the  two  brothers  of  Feridoun  saw  his 
altered  mien,  the  pomp  and  splendor  of  his  appearance, 


FERIDOUN  THE  GLORIOUS  31 

the  demon  of  envy  took  possession  of  their  hearts,  and  they 
privately  meditated  his  destruction,  saying  one  unto  the 
other: 

"Are  not  we,  also,  princes  of  the  house  of  Jemshid?  and 
older  by  birth!  Why,  then,  should  Feridoun  lord  it  over 
us?" 

So  it  came  to  pass  that  one  day  when  the  two  envious 
ones  spied  Feridoun  asleep  at  the  foot  of  a  mountain,  im- 
mediately they  hastened  unto  the  summit  and  rolled  down 
upon  him  a  heavy  fragment  of  rock,  with  the  intention  of 
crushing  him  to  death.  But  the  clattering  noise  of  the 
stone  awoke  Feridoun,  and  instantly  employing  the 
knowledge  of  magic  which  had  been  communicated  unto 
him,  the  stone  was  suddenly  arrested  by  him  in  its  course 
of  destruction. 

Now  the  two  brothers,  who  were  eagerly  watching  to  see 
the  result  of  their  effort,  beheld  with  astonishment  and  fear 
this  event  out  of  the  course  of  nature.  Hastening  down 
from  the  mountain,  therefore,  they  said  stutteringly  unto 
their  brother: 

"We  were  on  the  mountain,  but  we  know  not  how  the 
stone  became  loosened  from  its  place.  God  forbid  that  it 
should  have  done  injury  unto  Feridoun!" 

Well  aware,  however,  that  this  was  the  evil  work  of  his 
brothers,  the  young  Prince  was  yet  wise  enough  to  take 
no  notice  of  the  conspiracy;  and,  instead  of  having  them 
punished,  he  raised  them  unto  higher  dignity  and  conse- 
quence, for  he  thought  of  his  mother,  and  wished  to  fill  her 
cup  with  naught  but  joy. 

So  all  went  well  with  Feridoun,  and  presently  the  little 
army,  directed  by  Kavah,  arrived  at  Bagdad,  which  is 
upon  the  banks  of  the  Tigris.  Here  they  halted,  and  Feri- 


32  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

doun  called  for  boats  to  convey  them  across;  but  the 
ferrymen  refused  their  aid,  saying  that  it  was  the  King's 
decree  that  none  should  pass  save  only  those  who  bore  the 
royal  seal. 

Alas!  This  angered  Feridoun,  and  so,  regarding  not  the 
foaming  stream,  nor  the  dangers  hidden  within  its  treach- 
erous breast,  boldly  the  young  leader  plunged  with  his 
steed  into  the  rushing  river;  and  lo!  all  the  army  followed 
after  him.  And  now,  indeed,  was  the  struggle  sore,  for 
again  and  again  it  seemed  as  though  the  waves  would 
bear  them  down;  but  the  gallant  war-steeds  struggled  on, 
and  finally  all  stepped  out  in  safety  upon  the  farther  shore, 
where  they  rested  for  the  night,  giving  thanks  unto  Ormuzd 
for  bringing  them  safely  through  so  great  a  peril. 

On  the  following  day,  however,  they  turned  their  faces 
toward  the  city  which  is  now  called  Jerusalem,  the  proud 
capital  of  Zohak,  whose  glorious  palace  raised  its  towers 
unto  highest  heaven  in  beauty.  Here,  Feridoun  giving  the 
signal  by  striking  the  brazen  gates  with  his  cow-headed 
mace,  the  army  stormed  the  walls,  burst  in  the  gates,  and 
put  the  garrison  to  flight.  Then,  entering  the  palace,  the 
youthful  leader  cast  down  the  evil  talisman  of  miraculous 
virtues  that  was  graven  upon  the  walls,  and  slew  the  wicked 
Deevs  who  guarded  it.  He  also  destroyed  or  vanquished 
with  his  cow-headed  mace  all  the  enchanted  monsters  and 
hideous  shapes  that  appeared  before  him,  and  released, 
with  his  own  hands,  all  the  black-eyed  damsels  that  Zohak 
had  imprisoned  there — among  them,  the  two  beautiful 
sisters  of  Jemshid. 

And  behold!  having  accomplished  this  marvellous  feat, 
Feridoun  was  hailed  by  all  the  people  of  the  city  as  their 
deliverer,  for  they  were  sick  unto  death  of  the  cruelty 


FERIDOUN  THE  GLORIOUS  33 

and  tyranny  of  the  Serpent  King.  So,  with  shouts  of  re- 
joicing, Feridoun  mounted  the  empty  throne,  and  the 
crown  of  Iran  having  been  placed  upon  his  head,  all  the 
people  bowed  before  him,  and  named  him  Shah. 

But,  you  may  ask,  where  was  Zohak  that  he  perished  not 
at  the  hands  of  the  fateful  Prince  ?  Well,  from  Jemshid's 
sisters  Feridoun  now  learned  that  the  tyrant,  with  an  im- 
mense army,  had  gone  upon  a  secret  mission  toward  Ind; 
and,  upon  questioning  further,  he  ascertained  that  in  this 
direction  lay  the  country  of  the  magicians  with  whom  the 
Serpent  King  was  in  secret  conference,  hoping,  from  a  re- 
nowned enchanter  there,  to  obtain  such  means  as  should 
enable  him  to  charm  his  enemy  into  his  power.  For,  said 
the  damsels: 

"Night  and  day  the  terror  of  thy  name,  O  Feridoun, 
oppresseth  him.  His  heart  is  all  on  fire,  and  life  is  one 
long  torture  to  him." 

But  if  Zohak  was  troubled  before,  imagine  his  surprise 
and  terror  when  he  learned  from  Kandru,  the  keeper  of 
the  talisman,  the  strange  tidings  of  the  fall  of  his  capital! 
Disguising  his  fright,  however,  the  tyrant  immediately 
turned  unto  his  army,  hoping  by  its  aid  to  regain  his 
throne.  But  in  vain;  for  both  soldiers  and  people  at  once 
declared  loyalty  to  the  new  Shah,  resisting,  to  a  man,  the 
offers  of  gold  and  jewels  and  treasure  made  them. 

So,  disappointed  in  the  army,  Zohak  determined  to  seek 
revenge  alone.  Stealing  away  secretly,  therefore,  he  pro- 
ceeded rapidly  toward  his  capital,  arriving  by  night  at  the 
palace  of  Feridoun.  There,  ascending  a  height,  himself 
unobserved,  he  beheld  the  new  Shah,  in  all  the  glory  of  his 
kingly  robes,  seated  beside  the  lovely  Shahrnaz,  sister  of 
Jemshid,  enjoying  her  beauty  and  the  charm  of  her  con- 


34  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

versation.  Alas!  at  this  sight,  the  fire  of  jealousy  and  re- 
venge made  blind  with  rage  the  fallen  monarch,  who,  like 
a  mad  elephant,  dashed  upon  Feridoun,  thinking  to  slay 
him  unawares. 

But  Feridoun,  roused  by  the  noise,  started  up  quickly, 
and,  meeting  the  charging  Serpent  King — who  was  indeed 
a  most  terrible  sight — with  his  cow-headed  mace  he  struck 
him  a  powerful  blow  upon  the  temple,  crushing  the  bone. 
Then  observing  the  hissing  vipers,  Feridoun  knew  his 
enemy,  and  was  about  to  strike  again,  but  his  hand  was 
stayed,  as  the  Angel  Serosch,  swooping  down,  cried  warn- 
ingly: 

"O  Glorious  Hero!  Slay  this  human  monster  not,  for 
his  hour  is  not  yet  come.  To  a  beetling  mountain  crag 
must  he  be  chained,  far  from  the  haunts  of  men,  there  to 
die  slowly  and  in  torture,  for  so  it  is  decreed." 

So  the  cruel  Serpent  King  was  led  forth  unto  Mount 
Demavend,  accompanied  by  a  hooting,  mocking  multi- 
tude; and  there,  on  the  edge  of  the  precipice,  over  the 
abyss,  he  was  bound  with  mighty  chains  and  nails  driven 
into  his  hands,  and  left  to  perish. 

And  oh,  the  woe  of  Zohak!  for  behold  the  hot  sun  shone 
down  upon  the  barren  cliffs,  and  there  was  neither  tree  nor 
shrub  to  shelter  him;  also  the  chains  entered  into  his  flesh, 
and  his  tongue  was  consumed  with  thirst.  But  he  was  not 
alone,  for  continually  before  him  there  passed  the  great 
procession  of  his  victims:  Jemshid,  sawn  asunder,  mock- 
ingly performing  obeisance;  then  for  hours  a  mighty  throng 
of  youths  and  maidens,  sighing  as  they  passed  along,  "We 
are  the  serpents'  victims";  and  Iblis,  too,  appeared  be- 
fore the  Serpent  King,  assuring  him,  as  he  rubbed  his 
hands  and  laughed  in  fiendish  glee,  that  he  should  con- 


FERIDOUN  THE  GLORIOUS  35 

tinue  to  live  so — on  and  on  in  torture — for  a  thousand 
years.  So  was  the  wicked  Zohak  punished  for  his  evil 
deeds. 

But  as  for  Feridoun,  for  five  hundred  years  he  ruled  the 
world  gloriously,  and  all  his  days  he  did  that  which  was 
beneficent  and  good,  his  heart  being  ever  open  unto  his 
people.  Yea  so  brave  and  just  and  generous  was  he  that, 
writing  of  him  many  hundreds  of  years  later,  the  great 
poet  Firdusi,  to  whom  we  owe  these  hero  tales,  is  able  to 
say  of  his  countryman 

"The  work  of  heaven  performing,  Feridoun 
First  purified  the  world  of  sin  and  crime. 
Yet  Feridoun  was  not  an  angel,  nor 
Composed  of  musk  or  amber.    By  justice 
And  generosity  he  gained  his  fame. 
Do  thou  but  exercise  these  princely  virtues 
And  thou  wilt  be  renowned  as  Feridoun." 


IRIJ,  A  GENTLE  HERO 

NOW  it  is  recorded  that  Ormuzd  the  Blessed  caused 
three  sons  to  be  born  unto  Feridoun  the  Shah,  and 
these  youths  were  tall  and  strong,  and  fair  of  mien, 
their  mother  being  the  lovely  Shahrnaz  of  the  house  of 
Jemshid.  But  the  names  of  the  young  princes  were  not 
yet  known  unto  men,  for  it  remained  unto  Feridoun  to 
test  their  hearts.  But  before  their  hearts  were  tested,  the 
princes  were  wed,  and  of  this  you  shall  hear. 

Lo,  it  is  chronicled  in  the  Book  of  Kings  that  the  great 
Shah,  beholding  that  his  sons  were  come  unto  years  .of 
strength,  sent  forth  a  messenger  to  search  through  all  the 
world  for  three  princesses,  born  of  the  same  father  and 
mother,  and  adorned  with  every  grace  and  accomplishment, 
that  should  make  them  worthy  of  alliance  with  the  line  of 
Jemshid,  in  order  that  the  princes  might  be  wed. 

So  the  messenger  went  forth,  travelling  far  and  wide 
over  many  lands,  at  last  finding  the  object  of  his  search  in 
the  three  beautiful  princesses  of  the  house  of  Yemen. 
But  unfortunately,  Serv,  the  King 'of  Yemen,  did  not  wish 
to  part  with  his  three  fair  daughters,  and  so  put  hindrances 
in  the  way,  requiring  the  sons  of  Feridoun  to  present 
themselves  at  his  court  before  he  would  give  his  consent 
unto  the  alliance. 

Therefore,  counselled  by  their  father  as  to  how  they 

should  conduct  themselves,  the  three  princes  set  forth  to 

win  their  brides.    Now  they  were  received  by  the  King  of 

Yemen  with  becoming  honor,  and  as  they  came  through 

36 


IRIJ,  A  GENTLE  HERO  37 

the  tests  to  which  they  were  subjected  successfully,  the 
King  could  no  longer  withhold  his  consent  unto  the  be- 
trothals. 

That  same  night,  however,  Serv,  being  a  master  magi- 
cian, called  forth  biting  cold  and  frost,  thinking  to  freeze 
to  death  the  three  princes  as  they  lay  upon  their  perfumed 
couches  in  the  rose-garden  of  the  King.  But,  though  the 
cold  and  frost  were  sharp  enough  to  kill  all  the  flowers  in 
the  garden,  the  Angel  Serosch  awakened  the  princes  in 
time.  Whereupon  seeing  that  it  was  useless  to  fight  against 
the  inevitable,  the  King  finally  prepared  a  great  marriage 
feast,  after  which  the  three  brides  set  out  with  their  hus- 
bands upon  the  long  journey  back  to  Persia. 

Meanwhile  the  chronicles  relate  that  when  informed  by 
couriers  of  the  near  approach  of  his  sons  with  their  brides, 
Feridoun  at  once  determined  to  go  forth  to  meet  them,  in 
order  to  prove  their  hearts.  And  as,  above  all  things,  he 
was  anxious  to  test  their  courage,  he  took  upon  himself  the 
form  of  a  terrible  dragon  that  foamed  at  the  mouth  with 
fury,  and  from  whose  jaws  vomited  mighty  flames. 

Stationing  himself  in  a  gloomy  mountain  pass,  there- 
fore, when  the  train  from  Yemen  drew  near,  he  fell  upon 
it  suddenly,  like  a  whirlwind,  raising  a  cloud  of  dust  above 
the  place  with  his  writhings,  and  roaring  so  horribly  as  to 
cause  even  the  stoutest  heart  to  quake. 

Now,  as  it  happened,  the  eldest  brother  was  in  the  lead, 
and,  consequently,  he  was  the  first  to  see  the  frightful 
beast  about  to  fall  upon  them.  Being  given  a  moment  in 
which  to  think,  however,  he  said  within  himself:  "A  wise 
and  prudent  man  fighteth  not  with  dragons."  So,  turning 
his  back  upon  the  monster,  he  retreated,  leaving  the 
dragon  to  fall  upon  his  brothers. 


38  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

So  the  furious  beast,  robbed  of  the  first  brother,  quickly 
fell  upon  the  second,  who  said  unto  himself :  "  If  I  must  fight, 
what  mattereth  it  whether  it  be  a  furious  lion,  or  a  warrior 
full  of  valor?"  Placing  himself  upon  guard,  therefore,  he 
took  up  his  bow  and  stretched  it,  ready  for  the  attack. 

But  the  youngest  of  the  princes,  when  he  saw  the  dan- 
ger which  threatened  his  brother,  tarried  not  afar,  but,  full 
of  fire  and  fury,  rushed  upon  the  dragon,  crying  aloud  in 
his  rage:  uThou  reptile,  flee  from  out  our  presence,  for  it 
is  not  seemly  for  thee  to  strut  in  the  path  of  lions.  Thou 
beholdest  before  thee  the  sons  of  the  glorious  Feridoun, 
armed  and  ready  for  the  fight.  Beware,  therefore,  lest  we 
plant  upon  thy  head  the  crown  of  enmity."  Speaking 
thus,  the  Prince  sprang  boldly  forward;  but,  before  he 
could  strike,  Feridoun,  having  now  divined  the  character 
of  the  princes,  vanished  from  their  sight. 

So,  the  enemy  having  disappeared,  the  train  from 
Yemen  proceeded  upon  its  way;  and  when  they  were 
come  unto  the  royal  palace,  the  Shah  warmly  welcomed 
his  sons  and  the  three  fair  daughters  of  Yemen,  music  and 
rejoicing  being  heard  everywhere  in  the  land.  But  at  the 
end  of  seven  days,  behold,  Feridoun  called  his  sons  into 
his  presence,  and,  having  seated  them  upon  thrones  of 
splendor,  he  opened  his  mouth,  and  said  unto  them: 

"O  Princes  of  the  house  of  Feridoun,  give  heed  unto  the 
words  which  I  shall  speak  unto  you.  Know,  then,  that 
the  raging  dragon  whose  breath  threatened  destruction, 
was  but  your  father  who  sought  thus  to  test  your  hearts. 
And  now,  having  proved  you,  I  will  give  unto  each  a  name 
fitting  unto  his  character. 

"Lo,  the  first-born  shall  be  called  Selim,  for  in  the  hour 
of  danger,  prudence  became  his  guiding  star. 


IRIJ,  A  GENTLE  HERO  39 

"And  the  second,  who  showed  no  whit  of  fear  when 
suddenly  confronted  by  peril,  but  whose  spirit  burned 
ardent  as  a  flame,  him  will  I  call  Tur,  the  courageous, 
whom  not  even  a  mad  elephant  can  daunt. 

"But  as  to  the  youngest,  him  I  find  to  be  a  man  both 
prudent  and  brave,  knowing  both  how  to  haste,  and  how 
to  tarry.  Irij,  therefore,  shall  he  be  called,  for  first  did  he 
show  gentleness,  but  his  wisdom  and  bravery  tarried  not 
in  the  hour  of  danger." 

And  now  the  ceremony  of  naming  his  sons  being  com- 
pleted, Feridoun  called  for  the  Book  of  the  Stars  wherein  is 
written  the  fate  of  men,  for  he  wished  to  divine  the  destiny 
of  his  sons.  But  alas!  after  searching  the  planets,  he 
learned  that  though  the  signs  pointed  to  success  and  re- 
nown for  the  two  eldest,  the  horoscope  of  Irij,  the  young- 
est and  best  loved  of  his  father,  indicated  misfortune  and 
a  tragic  end,  which  disclosure  grieved  Feridoun  deeply. 

Howbeit,  the  King's  programme  was  not  yet  finished,  for 
next  he  proceeded  to  divide  his  vast  empire,  giving  the  three 
parts  unto  his  sons  in  suzerainty.  Now  unto  Selim,  he 
gave  the  lands  lying  toward  the  setting  sun;  and  unto  Tur, 
the  eastern  provinces  reaching  even  unto  China.  But 
unto  Irij,  he  gave  Iran  with  the  throne  of  might,  and  the 
crown  of  supremacy,  regarding  him  as  the  ablest  to  rule 
over  the  heart  of  the  empire. 

So  the  brothers  now  separated,  each  taking  charge  of 
the  reins  of  government  in  the  respective  kingdoms,  and 
for  many  long  years  they  sat  upon  their  golden  thrones 
in  happiness  and  peace.  But  alas!  evil  was  written 
in  the  Book  of  Fate,  and,  day  by  day,  as  the  leaves 
turned,  it  brought  tragedy  ever  nearer  unto  the  house  of 
Feridoun. 


40  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Verily  the  great  Shah,  after  a  romantic  and  glorious 
youth  devoted  to  valiant  deeds,  had  been  blessed  by 
Ormuzd  with  long  life,  honor,  and  peace;  but  now  was  he 
grown  hoary-headed  and  full  of  years,  and  his  strength 
inclined  toward  the  grave.  And — sorry  to  relate — as  their 
father  grew  weak  and  feeble,  the  two  eldest  brothers  be- 
came jealous  of  their  younger  brother,  Irij,  who  was  des- 
tined to  take  precedence  of  them  upon  the  death  of  Feri- 
doun. 

And  it  was  the  heart  of  Selim,  particularly,  that  was 
turned  toward  evil,  and  whose  soul  gradually  became 
steeped  in  greed  and  envy.  Day  after  day,  therefore,  he 
pondered  bitterly  in  his  spirit  the  parting  of  the  lands,  and 
anger  filled  his  soul.  For  Persia  was  a  beautiful  land,  the 
garden  of  spring,  full  of  freshness  and  perfume,  while  the 
other  provinces  were  wild  and  uncultivated. 

Finally,  Iblis  gaining  full  possession  of  the  heart  of 
Selim,  he  called  unto  him  a  messenger,  mounted  him  upon 
a  swift  dromedary,  and  sent  him  unto  his  brother  Tur  with 
a  letter,  sealed  with  his  private  seal.  And  the  letter  read: 

"O  King  of  the  house  of  Feridoun,  may  thy  days  be 
many  and  glorious!  So  sayeth  thy  brother  Selim  who 
greeteth  thee  from  out  the  west,  and  asketh  of  thee,  shall 
we,  the  elder  brothers,  remain  ever  satisfied  to  see  the 
youngest  born  set  high  above  our  heads  upon  the  throne 
of  light?  What  sayeth  Tur  the  Courageous?" 

Now  when  Tur  had  read  this  letter,  behold,  his  imag- 
ination became  filled  with  wind,  so  that  his  head  was 
raised  above  the  stars.  Calling  the  messenger  into  his  pres- 
ence, therefore,  he  said  unto  him: 

"Thus  sayeth  the  mighty  Tur  unto  his  brother:  O 
Star  of  the  house  of  Feridoun,  verily  I  say  unto  thee  that 


IRIJ,  A   GENTLE  HERO  41 

since  our  father  took  advantage  of  our  innocence  when  we 
were  young  and  simple  of  heart,  with  his  own  hands  hath 
he  planted  a  tree  destined  to  bear  bitter  fruit  for  him  and 
his  loved  Irij.  In  order,  therefore,  that  thou  and  I  may 
counsel  together  how  this  great  wrong  may  be  righted, 
I  follow  the  swift  feet  of  thy  messenger." 

So  Selim  and  Tur  met,  and,  as  a  result  of  their  conclave, 
the  following  haughty  message  was  sent  unto  Feridoun, 
their  aged  father: 

"O  thou  who  draweth  with  swift  feet  unto  the  tomb, 
behold,  thy  sons  Selim  and  Tur  ask  of  thee,  art  thou  not 
afraid  to  go  home  unto  thy  God  ?.  For  verily  thine  eldest 
born  hast  thou  treated  unfairly,  and  injustice  doth  cast  its 
black  shadow  both  before  and  after  thee,  since  thou  hast 
allotted  thy  realm  with  iniquity.  We  say  unto  thee,  there- 
fore, command  the  stripling  Irij  to  step  down  from  the 
throne  of  light,  and  hide  him  in  some  corner  of  the  earth 
where  he  will  be  forgotten  as  we,  and  where  he  shall  no 
longer  offend  our  sight.  For,  are  not  we  the  elder  broth- 
ers ?  Now  art  thou  warned,  and  if  thou  heedest  not,  then 
shall  come  down  upon  thee  from  the  mountains,  fierce 
warriors  filled  with  vengeance,  who  will  utterly  destroy 
thee." 

Now  the  herald,  who  bare  this  message  unto  the  court 
of  Feridoun,  was  greatly  awed  by  the  magnificence  which 
everywhere  greeted  him,  and  marvelled  much  at  the 
audacity  of  the  writing  destined  for  the  King.  And  this 
impression  was  deepened  when,  having  been  admitted 
into  the  great  audience-room  of  kings,  he  beheld  the 
mighty  monarch,  proud  and  venerable,  with  snow-white 
beard  reaching  unto  his  waist,  seated  majestically  upon 
his  gorgeous  golden  throne.  But  behold !  the  look  of  se- 


42  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

renity  and  peace  vanished  from  the  face  of  Feridoun  as  he 
listened  unto  the  cruel  words  of  his  sons — his  soul  becom- 
ing kindled  with  fury.  Rising  majestically,  therefore,  he 
straightway  said  unto  the  messenger: 

"Return,  O  herald,  unto  your  masters — these  men 
senseless  and  perverse  of  heart — and  say  unto  them:  Truly 
Feridoun  rejoiceth  that  at  last  his  sons  have  laid  bare  their 
hearts  before  him,  for  now  he  knoweth  what  manner  of 
men  they  really  are.  As  for  the  parting  of  the  realm,  it 
was  done  in  equity,  according  to  the  wisdom  of  many  coun- 
sellors. But  I  ask  of  you,  what  shall  be  said  of  him  who 
betrayeth  his  brother  for  greed  ?  Verily,  he  is  not  worthy 
to  be  sprung  from  a  noble  race!  And  now,  listen  unto  the 
word  of  warning  sent  unto  you  by  an  aged  father.  For 
I  say  unto  you,  if  you  persist  in  your  vile  threat,  lo!  your 
names  shall  be  blotted  out  from  the  house  of  Feridoun, 
and  destruction  utter  and  sure  shall  be  your  inheritance. 
Pray  God,  therefore,  that  he  turn  your  hearts  from  evil." 

After  the  departure  of  the  messenger,  behold,  Feridoun 
at  once  informed  Iri j  of  the  intent  of  his  brothers,  advising 
him  to  prepare  a  great  army  to  oppose  them,  should  they 
really  attempt  to  carry  out  their  threat.  For  he  said: 

"Alas  that  it  should  be  true,  O  my  son,  but  in  this 
world  we  can  look  for  no  defenders  unless  we  are  prepared 
to  defend  ourselves,  and  unto  the  evil  of  heart,  a  mighty 
army  speaketh  more  loudly  than  the  cry  of  justice." 

But  Irij,  as  he  listened  unto  the  words  of  his  father,  was 
very  sorrowful,  for  he  was  gentle  of  heart,  and  loved  not 
strife  and  bloodshed.  Therefore  he  said  unto  Feridoun: 

"O  Royal  Cypress,  casting  thy  gracious  shadow  over 
the  whole  sun-kissed  world!  Good  and  not  evil  hath  been 
thy  influence  throughout  thy  long  reign  for,  blessed  by  thy 


IRIJ,  A   GENTLE  HERO  43 

protecting  shade,  the  beauteous  flower  of  peace  hath  blos- 
somed radiantly  throughout  thy  kingdom  for  more  than  a 
hundred  years.  Now  I,  too,  O  my  father,  would  reign 
beneficently,  for  I  care  not  to  be  a  dragon  of  war,  vomiting 
upon  the  world  destruction  and  woe.  Suffer  me,  therefore, 
to  go  forth  alone  unto  my  brothers  that  I  may  still  the 
anger  which  they  feel  against  me,  since  rather  than  dip  my 
hands  in  fratricidal  blood,  gladly  will  I  sacrifice  both 
diadem  and  throne.  For  verily 

"I  feel  no  resentment,  I  seek  not  for  strife, 
I  wish  not  for  thrones  and  the  glories  of  life; 
What  is  glory  to  man  ? — an  illusion,  a  cheat; 
What  did  it  for  Jemshid,  the  world  at  his  feet? 
When  I  go  to  my  brothers,  their  anger  may  cease 
Though  vengeance  were  fitter  than  offers  o'f  peace." 

Now  tears  filled  the  eyes  of  the  aged  Feridoun  as  he 
listened  unto  the  noble  words  of  his  son  and  with  heart 
soothed  and  quickened  as  by  a  gentle  shower,  he  said  unto 
his  youngest  born : 

"If  such  be  thy  desire,  O  my  gentle  son,  go  forth,  and 
may  flowers  spring  up  in  thy  pathway,  brightening  and 
making  glad  unto  thee  every  step  of  thy  feet.  But  forget 
not  that  my  life  is  rooted  in  thee,  and  return  unto  thy 
father  with  the  speed  of  the  swift-footed  dromedary." 

But,  before  Irij  started  upon  his  mission  of  peace,  Feri- 
doun wrote  and  gave  unto  him  a  letter  that  he  should  bear 
unto  his  brothers.  Now  the  writing  was  signed  with  the 
royal  seal,  and  it  read: 

"Thus  sayeth  Feridoun  the  Mighty  unto  his  sons,  Selim 
and  Tur :  Behold,  your  youngest  brother  hath  descended 
from  off  his  throne  and  is  come  unto  you  with  peace  in  his 
heart,  esteeming  your  friendship  of  more  value  than  his 


44  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

crown  and  throne.  Banishing  from  your  hearts,  therefore, 
all  hostility,  be  kind  unto  him,  for  it  is  incumbent  upon 
the  eldest  born  to  be  indulgent  and  affectionate  unto  their 
younger  brothers.  As  for  me,  I  am  now  old,  and  desire 
naught  so  much  as  to  see  my  sons  united;  and  though 
your  consideration  for  my  happiness  seemeth  to  have  passed 
away,  yet  are  your  names  still  graven  upon  my  heart." 

So,  armed  with  his  father's  letter,  Irij  hastened  with  his 
modest  retinue  into  Turkestan,  where  he  found  the  armies 
of  his  brothers  already  assembled.  However,  he  was  re- 
ceived courteously  by  Selim  and  Tur,  and  was  lodged  in  the 
royal  quarter.  But  alas  for  Irij!  for  it  seemed  as  if  his 
very  good  qualities  were  to  bring  about  his  destruction,  as 
you  shall  hear. 

Now  it  is  related  of  this  Prince  of  the  house  of  Feridoun 
that,  in  addition  to  b.eauty  of  character,  he  was  also  ex- 
tremely prepossessing  personally — so  much  so,  in  fact, 
that  in  every  place  all  eyes  were  fixed  upon  him,  and 
wherever  he  moved  he  was  followed  and  surrounded  by 
the  admiring  soldiers,  and  crowds  of  people  who,  filled 
with  wonder  at  his  beauty  and  kingly  presence,  murmured 
among  themselves,  saying:  "Surely  this  is  the  Prince 
worthy  to  bear  the  sceptre  of  Iran!"  all  of  which  exas- 
perated the  malignant  spirit  of  the  two  brothers,  bringing 
down  upon  Irij  his  fate. 

For  although  at  first  Selim  and  Tur  had  intended  to  kill 
Irij,  his  youth  and  gentleness  had  in  some  degree  subdued 
their  animosity;  now,  however,  they  were  glad  to  have 
this  excuse  for  removing  him  from  their  pathway.  So,  re- 
tiring into  their  tents,  all  night  they  fanned  their  jealousy 
and  hate,  counselling  how  they  might  do  hurt  unto  Irij; 
and  as  the  day  broke,  Selim  said  unto  Tur: 


IRIJ,  A   GENTLE  HERO  45 

"O  Courageous  One,  thou  must  put  this  usurper  to 
death;  then  his  kingdom  will  be  thine." 

So,  when  the  curtain  that  hid  the  sun  was  lifted,  reveal- 
ing a  glorious  new  day,  Selim  and  Tur  went  forth  unto  the 
tent  of  their  brother.  And  Irij  greeted  them  joyously,  for 
his  heart  was  full  of  sunshine.  But  Tur,  frowning  darkly, 
said:  " O  Perfidious  Stripling, 

"Must  thou  have  gold  and  treasure, 
And  thy  heart  be  wrapped  in  pleasure, 
Whilst  we,  thy  elder  born, 
Of  our  heritage  are  shorn  ? 
Must  the  youngest  still  be  nursed, 
And  the  elder  branches  cursed  ? 
And  condemned  by  stern  command, 
To  a  wild  and  sterile  land?" 

Now  when  Irij  heard  these  bitter  words  from  Tur,  be- 
hold, he  grew  not  angry,  but  replied  gently  unto  him: 
"  O  my  brother, 

"I  only  seek  tranquillity  and  peace; 
I  look  not  on  the  crown  of  sovereignty, 
Nor  seek  a  name  among  the  Persian  host; 
And  though  the  throne  and  diadem  are  mine, 
I  here  renounce  them,  satisfied  to  lead 
A  private  life.    For  what  hath  ever  been 
The  end  of  earthly  power  and  pomp,  but  darkness? 
I  seek  not  to  contend  against  my  brothers; 
Why  should  I  grieve  their  hearts,  or  give  distress 
To  any  human  creature  ?    I  am  young 
And  Heaven  forbid  that  I  should  prove  unkind!" 

But  alas!  the  gentle  words  of  Irij  unconsciously  rebuked 
the  greedy,  self-seeking  spirit  of  his  brothers,  and  so  they 
softened  not  thfe  heart  of  Tur,  which  was  proud  and  full  of 
evil.  Utterly  unable  to  comprehend  a  nobility  of  soul  so 


46  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

wonderful,  he  thought  that  Irij  feigned,  and  so,  springing 
up,  furiously  he  seized  the  golden  chair,  but  now  his  seat, 
and  with  it  struck  a  violent  blow  upon  the  head  of  his 
brother,  calling  aloud,  "Bind  him!  Bind  him!" 

Then  Irij,  thinking  of  his  aged  parent,  and  fearing  his 
hour  was  come,  begged  piteously  for  mercy,  saying  unto 
his  brother: 

"O  Cruel  One,  think  of  thy  old  father,  and  spare  me! 
and  if  not  of  him,  then  have  compassion  upon  thine  own 
soul,  and  destroy  me  not,  lest  God  ask  vengeance  for  my 
blood.  Verily,  thou  wouldst  not  crush  even  the  tiny  ant 
that  beareth  a  grain  of  corn,  for  she  hath  life,  and  sweet 
life  is  a  boon;  therefore  spare  thy  brother.  For  thy  father's 
sake,  grant  that  I  may  yet  behold  the  sun.  I  ask  only  to 
live  in  peace  and  retirement." 

Alas!  strange  to  say,  these  words  of  piteous  pleading  but 
angered  Tur  the  more,  so  that,  drawing  from  his  boot  a 
poisoned  dagger,  he  thrust  it  deep  into  the  breast  of  gentle 
Irij.  And  behold,  the  Kingly  Cedar  fell,  never  again  to 
raise  his  glorious  head  in  the  sunshine  of  the  world.  Alas, 
the  pity  of  it! 

But  pity  was  far  from  the  heart  of  Tur;  for,  in  his  vile- 
ness,  he  severed  from  the  trunk  the  royal  young  head  of  his 
brother,  and  filling  it  with  musk  and  amber,  sent  it  unto 
their  aged  father  with  these  cruel  words: 

"Behold  the  head  of  thy  darling!  Give  unto  him  now 
the  crown  and  the  throne." 

Then,  their  evil  deed  accomplished,  behold,  the  broth- 
ers furled  their  tents  and  returned  each  unto  his  own  land. 
But  the  end  was  not  yet. 

All  this  time  the  aged  Feridoun  kept  his  eyes  fastened 
eagerly  upon  the  road  whither  Irij  had  gone,  for  his  heart 


IRIJ,  A   GENTLE  HERO  47 

yearned  exceedingly  to  behold  his  boy  again.  And,  as  the 
time  of  his  return  drew  near,  he  caused  the  walls  of  his 
palace  to  be  readorned,  and  gave  orders  that  musicians, 
dancing-women,  and  banquets  should  be  in  readiness  to 
give  his  son  a  joyous  welcome  home.  Then,  when  at  last 
the  day  of  his  return  was  come,  the  aged  King  sent  forth  a 
host  to  greet  him,  he  himself  following  close  in  the  wake. 

But  when  the  joyous  company  had  gone  a  little  way,  a 
strange  thing  happened.  For  Feridoun,  riding  at  the  head 
of  his  expectant  army,  suddenly  beheld  a  mighty  cloud  of 
dust  upon  the  sky,  which,  when  it  cleared,  revealed  a  soli- 
tary dromedary  looming  out  of  the  far  horizon,  whereupon 
was  seated  a  rider  clad  in  the  garb  of  woe.  And,  the 
mournful  figure  drawing  nearer,  the  King  beheld  that  he 
bare  in  his  arms  a  casket  of  gold  which,  upon  reaching  the 
retinue,  he  gave  with  sorrowful  mien  into  the  hands  of  the 
aged  monarch. 

Now  Feridoun,  suspecting  not  to  what  lengths  greed 
and  envy  had  driven  his  wicked  sons,  yet  felt  a  dire  pre- 
sentiment in  his  heart  as  he  gazed  upon  the  case  of  gold. 
Commanding  that  it  be  opened,  however,  when  the  lid 
was  raised,  there  was  revealed  at  first  naught  but  rich 
stuffs  of  silks;  but  when  the  silks  were  unrolled,  lo!  the 
hoary-headed  King  gazed  upon  the  head  of  his  loved  Irij. 
Alas  for  Feridoun !  horror-stricken  by  this  grim  sight  and 
the  cruel  words  of  his  sons,  the  world  grew  suddenly  dark 
unto  his  eyes,  and  he  fell  from  his  horse  in  a  swoon. 

Then  there  rent  the  air  a  mighty  cry  of  sorrow  such  as 
the  world  hath  seldom  heard.  For  the  whole  army  wailed 
with  grief,  in  their  woe  casting  dust  upon  their  heads,  and 
tearing  their  garments  in  twain.  And  not  only  that,  but  the 
banners  were  rent,  the  drums  broken,  and  the  elephants 


48  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

and  cymbals  hung  with  the  colors  of  mourning,  because  that 
the  gentle  Irij  was  now  but  a  beautiful  memory  in  the  world, 
and  that  the  house  of  Feridoun  was  left  unto  him  desolate. 

As  for  the  stricken  monarch,  when  he  recovered  his 
senses,  he  returned  upon  foot  into  the  city,  and  all  the 
nobles  accompanied  him,  trailing  their  steps  in  the  dust, 
and  followed  by  the  lamenting  army.  But  Feridoun  was 
dumb  in  his  sorrow  until  they  were  come  unto  the  garden 
of  Irij,  the  spot  loved  best  in  the  world  by  the  noble  young 
King.  Here  his  grief  o'ercame  him,  and,  casting  black 
earth  upon  his  head,  he  tore  his  white  hair,  and  shed  bitter 
tears,  his  cries  and  lamentations  being  so  piercing  that 
they  mounted  even  unto  the  seventh  sphere.  Then  press- 
ing the  golden  casket  unto  his  breast,  he  spake  unto  God 
in  his  grief,  and  he  said: 

"O  Omnipotent  One!  Thou  who  art  all- just!  look 
down,  I  beseech  thee,  upon  this  innocent  whom  his  broth- 
ers have  so  foully  slain,  and  grant  unto  me  vengeance  for 
his  blood.  His  murderers,  O  God,  are  my  sons,  but  I, 
their  most  unhappy  father,  beg  of  Thee  to  sear  their 
wicked  hearts  that  they  may  never  again  know  joy  or 
peace  in  the  world.  O  Lord  of  the  World,  I  long  for  the 
earth  to  cover  me,  but  let  me  not  go  hence  until  a  warrior, 
mighty  to  avenge,  shall  be  sprung  from  the  loins  of  Irij; 
then  will  I  depart  with  joy,  for  I  am  weary  of  turmoil  and 
strife." 

Thus  cried  Feridoun  in  the  bitterness  of  his  soul,  and, 
refusing  to  quit  the  garden  of  Irij,  he  threw  himself  upon 
the  grass,  and,  his  white  locks  wet  with  dew,  he  lay  night 
after  night  under  the  stars.  Yea,  the  earth  was  his  couch, 
and  he  watered  the  garden  with  his  tears,  and  lo!  he 
moved  not  from  the  spot  until  the  grass  had  grown  above 


Then  pressing  the  golden  casket  unto  his  breast,  he  spake  unto  God  in 
his  grief. 


IRIJ,  A  GENTLE  HERO  49 

his  bosom,  and  his  eyes  were  stricken  with  blindness  from 
much  weeping.  And,  moaning  continually,  in  his  agony 
he  lamented: 

" O  my  son!  My  gentle  Irij !  Never  prince  died  a  death 
so  pitiful  as  thine!" 

Now  all  the  land  wept  and  bemoaned  the  death  of  Irij, 
and  the  sorrow  which  had  come  unto  the  great  King,  so 
that  for  many  years  Iran  was  like  unto  a  house  of  mourn- 
ing. And  the  voice  of  lamentation  ceased  not  in  the  land 
until  the  happy  day  upon  which  they  placed  in  the  arms  of 
Feridoun  a  babe,  fair  and  strong,  the  hero  destined  to 
avenge  the  gentle  Irij's  death.  But  of  this  you  must  hear 
in  another  story. 


MINUCHIR  THE  AVENGER 

THE  old  Persian  chronicles  relate  that  the  Princess  of 
Yemen  wedded  by  Irij,  son  of  Feridoim,  bare  unto 
him  an  only  child,  a  daughter  fair  and  sweet  as 
a  garden  in  spring.    Now  the  fame  of  her  beauty  travelled 
far,  and  kings  became  her  suitors.     But  her  grandsire, 
giving  her  the  desire  of  her  heart,  wedded  her   unto 
Pescheng,  a  hero  of  Jemshid's  race;  and,  in  the  course  of 
time,  there  was  born  unto  them  a  son  who,  in  form  and 
feature,  resembled  the  lost  Irij. 

Now  great  was  the  rejoicing  on  the  occasion  of  his  birth, 
and,  when  he  was  yet  a  tender  babe,  they  carried  him  unto 
the  aged  Feridoun,  saying: 

"O  Shelter  of  the  Universe,  rejoice!    for  here  is  thy 
loved  Irij  come  back  unto  thee  a  sweet  and  smiling  babe." 
Then, 

"The  old  man's  lips,  with  smiles  apart, 
Bespoke  the  gladness  of  his  heart. 
And  in  his  arms  he  took  the  boy 
The  harbinger  of  future  joy; 
Delighted  that  indulgent  Heaven 
To  his  fond  hopes  the  pledge  had  given. 
It  seemed  as  if,  to  bless  his  reign, 
Irij  had  come  to  life  again." 

But  alas!  as  Feridoun  held  the  child  in  his  arms,  a 
mighty  yearning  took  possession  of  him  to  behold  the  face 
of  this  babe  like  unto  his  gentle  Irij.  Vain,  however,  was 
his  desire,  for  as  you  know,  he  was  blind.  Then  in  his 
longing  he  cried  aloud  unto  the  Almighty,  and  he  said: 
50 


MINUCHIR  THE  AVENGER  51 

"O  Lord  of  the  World,  in  Thine  infinite  goodness,  grant 
unto  me  the  sight  of  my  eyes,  that  I  may  behold  this  image 
of  my  son." 

And  God  was  good  unto  Feridoun;  for,  even  as  he 
prayed,  his  eyes  were  opened,  and  his  sight  rested  upon 
the  babe  who,  pleased  with  his  grandsire's  hoary  locks, 
smiled  up  at  him  and  cooed  in  glee;  seeing  which,  Feri- 
doun gave  thanks  unto  Ormuzd,  and  called  down  bless- 
ings upon  the  child,  naming  him  Minuchir.  For  he  said, 
"Lo,  a  branch  worthy  of  a  noble  stock  hath  borne  fruit." 

As  for  the  child,  he  was  nourished  with  the  greatest  care 
during  his  infancy,  in  the  house  of  Feridoun,  who  bestowed 
upon  him  a  mother's  tenderness,  suffering  neither  sorrow 
nor  ill  to  come  near  unto  him.  So  the  years  passed  over 
his  head,  and  the  stars  brought  him  naught  but  good. 
And,  as  he  grew  up,  his  grandfather  had  him  carefully  in- 
structed in  every  art  necessary  to  form  the  character,  and 
acquire  the  accomplishments  of  a  warrior.  Brought  up  in 
the  saddle,  he  could  ride  as  no  other;  with  his  spear  could 
he  pierce  all  shields;  with  his  arrow  shoot  farther  and 
straighter  than  any  in  Feridoun's  court;  while  in  wres- 
tling, he  overcame  the  strongest.  And,  in  addition  to  his 
prowess,  he  possessed  all  the  personal  charm  which  had 
so  endeared  Irij  to  the  whole  world,  so  that  the  army 
adored  him  as  no  other. 

Now  when  the  young  Minuchir  was  come  unto  years  of 
maturity,  Feridoun  gave  unto  him  a  throne  of  gold  and 
a  mace;  he  also  decorated  his  brow  with  the  crown  of 
sovereignty,  and  bestowed  upon  him  the  key  unto  all  his 
treasures.  And  when  this  was  accomplished,  he  com- 
manded his  nobles  that  they  should  do  homage  unto  him 
as  King.  Now  at  this  important  ceremony,  there  were 


52  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

gathered  about  the  throne,  Karun,  the  brawny  son  of 
Kavah;  Serv,  King  of  Yemen;  the  great  Neriman,  and 
many  other  mighty  princes  and  heroes  of  renown,  more 
than  tongue  can  name.  But  the  young  King  outshone 
them  all  in  strength  and  beauty  and  valor;  and  joy  took 
up  her  abode  once  more  in  Iran. 

And,  presently,  tidings  of  the  splendor  and  glory  of  the 
new  Shah  pierced  even  unto  the  ears  of  Selim  and  Tur, 
who,  hearing  of  the  intrepidity  and  valor  of  Minuchir,  and 
of  the  immense  army  that  had  flocked  to  his  standard  with 
the  purpose  of  forwarding  his  plans  for  revenge,  were 
filled  with  inexpressible  terror;  for  they  feared  an  imme- 
diate invasion  of  their  kingdoms. 

Thus  alarmed,  these  slayers  of  their  brother  counselled 
long  together,  finally  determining  to  try  the  efficacy  of  rich 
gifts  and  conciliatory  language,  hoping  thus  to  regain  the 
good-will  of  Feridoun,  and  also  to  lure  Minuchir  into  their 
power,  for  they  feared  him  greatly. 

In  pursuance  of  their  plan,  therefore,  the  two  brothers 
loaded  a  train  of  elephants  and  dromedaries  with  rich 
treasure:  gold,  and  silver,  and  jewels,  and  other  articles 
of  priceless  value;  and  a  messenger  was  despatched  with 
them  charged  with  abundant  acknowledgment  of  guilt, 
and  profuse  expressions  of  repentance. 

Now  when  the  messenger  arrived  at  the  court  of  Feri- 
doun, at  once  he  delivered  the  magnificent  presents,  the 
sight  of  which  caused  the  old  monarch  to  observe  unto 
Minuchir,  who  in  all  his  splendid  robes  of  state  was 
seated  upon  the  golden  throne  at  his  side: 

"These  gifts,  O  my  son,  are  unto  thee  a  prosperous 
and  hopeful  omen;  they  show  that  thy  enemy  is  afraid  of 
thee." 


MINUCHIR  THE  AVENGER  53 

Then,  all  being  in  readiness,  the  great  Shah  commanded 
that  the  messenger  be  given  audience,  who,  when  he  had 
performed  obeisance,  thus  stated  his  mission: 

"O  Glorious  Shah,  whose  throne  of  light  illumines  the 
world,  live  forever!  Behold,  I  bear  unto  thee  a  message 
from  thy  contrite  sons  who,  bowed  low  in  the  dust,  vent- 
ure not  so  much  as  to  raise  their  eyes  unto  thy  footstool. 
Contrite  of  heart,  they  pray  that  thou  wilt  pardon  their 
evil  deed,  for  it  was  Iblis  who  led  them  astray.  Have  pity, 
therefore,  O  King,  upon  these  unfortunate  ones  whose 
eyes  are  filled  with  tears  and  their  hearts  with  repentance. 
For  art  thou  not,  O  Beneficent  One,  the  ocean  of  mercy  ? 
Therefore  thy  forgiveness  will  cleanse  their  hearts  and 
restore  them  unto  themselves.  And,  as  a  sign  of  thy 
grace,  they  beseech  thee  to  send  unto  them  Minuchir,  thy 
son,  for  they  yearn  to  look  upon  his  face  and  do  him  hom- 
age. And  this  they  beg,  O  Noble  Shah,  being  but  the  dust 
of  thy  feet." 

Alas!  As  Feridoun  listened  unto  the  words  of  his  sons,  he 
knitted  his  brows  in  anger,  for  he  knew  the  guile  of  their 
hearts,  and  trusted  them  not.  Turning,  therefore,  unto 
the  messenger,  he  said: 

"O  Foolish  One,  canst 'thou  conceal  the  sun?  Go, 
therefore,  and  say  unto  those  wicked  men,  your  masters, 
that  their  gifts  and  false-hearted  words  shall  avail  them 
naught,  for  it  is  vain  white  words  to  speak  with  tongues  of 
blackness.  And  now,  hear  my  answer:  Go  back  and  ask 
those  fierce  unnatural  brothers,  who  talk  of  their  affection 
for  the  Prince,  where  lieth  the  body  of  the  gentle  Irij — him 
they  have  slain  so  foully?  And  now  they  thirst  to  gain 
another  victim !  They  long  to  gaze  upon  the  great  Minu- 
chir! Yea,  and  they  shall,  surrounded  by  his  soldiers,  and 


54  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

clad  in  steel.  And  they  shall  feel,  also,  the  edge  of  his 
life-destroying  sword.  Yes,  they  shall  see  him,  never 
fear!" 

Now,  uttering  this  indignant  speech,  behold,  Feridoun 
paused  for  a  moment  to  show  unto  the  messenger  his 
famous  warriors  one  by  one,  all  men  of  giant  stature  and 
of  admirable  courage  and  valor  in  war.  Then  he  resumed : 

"Long,  long  hath  vengeance  slumbered,  since  it  became 
not  Feridoun  to  stretch  forth  his  hand  in  battle  against  his 
sons.  But,  thanks  unto  Ormuzd,  at  last  forth  from  that 
noble  young  cypress,  uprooted  so  cruelly,  is  there  sprung 
a  branch  which  shall  be  as  poison  unto  these  enemies  of 
his  sire.  And  I  say  unto  you : 

"Hence  with  your  presents,  hence,  away. 

Can  gold  or  gems  turn  night  to  day  ? 

Must  kingly  heads  be  bought  and  sold, 

And  shall  I  barter  blood  for  gold? 

Shall  gold  a  father's  heart  entice, 

Blood  to  redeem  beyond  all  price? 

Hence,  hence  with  treachery;  I  have  heard 

Their  glazing  falsehoods,  every  word; 

But  human  feelings  guide  my  will, 

And  keep  my  honor  sacred  still. 

True  is  the  oracle  we  read: — 
'Those  who  have  sown  oppression's  seed 

Reap  bitter  fruit;  their  souls,  perplexed, 

Joy  not  in  this  world  or  the  next.' 

The  brothers  of  my  murdered  boy, 

Who  could  a  father's  hope  destroy, 

An  equal  punishment  will  reap, 

And  lasting  vengeance  o'er  them  sweep. 

They  rooted  up  my  favorite  tree, 

But  yet  a  branch  remains  to  me. 

Now  the  young  lion  comes  apace, 

The  glory  of  his  glorious  race; 


MINUCHIR  THE  AVENGER  55 

He  comes  apace  to  punish  guilt, 
When  brother's  blood  was  basely  spilt; 
And  blood  alone  for  blood  must  pay; 
Hence  with  your  gold,  depart,  away!" 

Now  when  the  messenger  heard  these  reproaches  min- 
gled with  poison,  he  departed  with  speed;  and  when  he 
was  come  unto  Selim  and  Tur  he  had  many  ominous 
things  to  report  unto  them.  And  first  he  told  of  the  glori- 
ous Minuchir  who,  with  frowning  brow,  was  only  anxious 
for  battle;  of  the  mighty  heroes  bearing  names  that  filled 
the  world  with  wonder,  who  stood  about  him  thick  as 
flies;  of  the  army  so  great  in  numbers  and  valor  that  the 
men  of  Roum  and  China  could  not  hope  to  stand  against 
them;  and  he  told  finally  how  that  every  heart  in  Persia 
was  filled  with  hatred  of  them  because  of  gentle  Irij  slain. 

An  ominous  outlook  for  the  two  brothers,  truly,  and  one 
that  filled  their  hearts  with  fear.  But  Tur,  who  was  nat- 
urally cool-headed  and  brave,  said  unto  Selim: 

"Henceforth,  O  my  brother,  we  must  forego  pleasure, 
for  it  behooveth  us  to  be  first  upon  the  field  of  battle,  and 
not  to  wait  until  the  teeth  of  the  young  lion  are  sharpened. 
Also,  let  us  take  heart,  for  the  young  Minuchir  hath  yet  to 
show  his  valor,  and  it  followeth  not  that  he  will  prove  a 
hero  bold  and  victorious  because  he  is  descended  from  the 
brave!" 

So  in  this  spirit  the  two  brothers  rapidly  collected  from 
both  their  kingdoms  an  army  that  was  past  numbering. 
Helmet  was  joined  unto  helmet,  and  spear  unto  spear,  and 
treasure,  baggage,  and  elephants  and  camels  without  num- 
ber went  with  them,  so  that  the  earth  thundered  beneath 
their  tread.  Now  you  would  have  thought  it  a  host  that 
none  could  withstand,  for  it  covered  the  land  like  unto 


56  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

a  flock  of  locusts.  So  they  marched  unto  Iran,  and  the 
two  Kings  rode  at  the  head,  their  black  hearts  filled  with 
hate  and  rage,  for  they  feared  that  their  sun  was  declining. 

As  for  Feridoun,  when  he  learned  that  the  hostile  army 
had  crossed  the  Jihun,  he  called  unto  him  Minuchir  and 
said: 

"Behold!  The  forest  game  surrendereth  itself  volun- 
tarily at  the  foot  of  the  sportsman.  This  is  well!  And 
now  wait  quietly,  for  a  little  skill  and  patience  will  draw 
the  lion's  head  into  thy  toils." 

So  Minuchir  waited;  but  when  the  enemy  had  ap- 
proached within  hailing  distance,  they  found  the  army  of 
the  Great  Shah  drawn  up  in  magnificent  battle-array. 
Now  the  glorious  Minuchir  rose  above  the  rest  like  unto 
the  moon,  or  the  sun  when  it  shineth  above  the  mountains; 
while  at  his  right  rode  Karun,  the  avenger,  and  his  war- 
riors, carrying  ponderous  clubs,  each  like  a  fierce  lion  girt 
with  power.  At  his  left,  rode  Saum  the  son  of  Neriman, 
and  his  men,  whose  bright  scimetars  flashed  brilliantly  in 
the  eastern  sunshine,  while  front  and  rear,  for  miles  and 
miles,  there  was  naught  but  bristling  steel.  And  over  all 
this  mighty  host  waved  the  fair  flag  of  Kavah,  resplendent 
with  jewels — that  banner  which  never  yet  had  recoiled  or 
gone  down  before  the  foe! 

Now,  seeing  this,  the  two  brothers  also  drew  up  their 
legions  in  imposing  array,  and  when  dawn,  the  fair  har- 
binger of  day,  had  flushed  the  eastern  sky  with  red,  out 
from  the  mighty  host  sprang  Tur  the  Courageous,  and,  with 
haughty  gesture,  thus  addressed  himself  unto  the  chief- 
tain, Saum: 

"  O  Son  of  Neriman,  I  pray  thee  ask  this  new  King,  this 
young  Minuchir,  since  Heaven  to  Irij  gave  but  a  daughter, 


MINUCHIR  THE  AVENGER  57 

who  on  him  bestowed  the  battle-axe,  the  shining  mail,  the 
sword?" 

Incensed  at  this  insulting  speech,  Saum  replied  hotly: 

"O  Shedder  of  a  Brother's  Blood,  thy  message  shall  be 
given,  and  I  will  bring  the  answer  too.  Ye  know  right 
well  what  ye  have  done.  Have  ye  not  murdered  him  who, 
trusting,  sought  protection  from  ye?  And  verily  for  this 
atrocious  deed  must  all  mankind  your  memory  curse  even 
until  the  day  of  doom.  Yea,  if  savage  monsters  were  to 
flee  your  presence,  it  would  not  be  surprising !  And  this  is 
certain,  those  who  die  in  this  most  righteous  war  will  go 
to  Heaven  with  all  their  sins  forgiven." 

Now  having  thus  given  vent  unto  his  feelings,  Saum 
went  at  once  unto  Minuchir  and  delivered  the  message. 
Smiling,  then,  the  young  King  spake,  and  he  said: 

"Verily,  a  boaster  must  he  be,  foolish  and  vain,  for, 
when  engaged  in  battle,  vigor  of  arm  and  the  enduring 
soul  are  best  proved  by  deeds,  not  words.  Parley  not  with 
him.  I  ask  but  for  vengeance  for  gentle  Irij  slain.  For- 
ward! to  battle!" 

And  at  the  signal,  verily,  never  saw  you  such  an  on- 
slaught! For,  like  a  hungry  tiger  breaking  forth  from  the 
jungle  to  seize  upon  its  prey,  so  did  the  army  of  the  brave 
Minuchir  fall  upon  the  foe.  And  fierce  indeed  was  the 
conflict,  lasting  until  set  of  sun,  multitudes  on  both  sides 
being  slain,  until  all  the  spacious  plain  became  a  sea  of 
blood.  Yea,  red,  red,  became  the  ground,  so  red  it  seemed 
as  if  the  earth  were  covered  o'er  with  crimson  tulips,  their 
bright  heads  stilled  by  the  luxuriance  of  their  bloom.  But 
the  army  of  Minuchir  was  victorious,  the  flag  of  Kavah, 
at  evening,  still  waving  defiance  to  its  foes. 

But  alas  for  Selim  and  Tur!  for  behold,  it  is  related 


58  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

that  when  the  sun  had  sunk  to  rest  upon  this  day  of 
bloodshed,  craftily  they  consulted  together  how  they  might 
seize  upon  Minuchir  by  fraud,  for  they  saw  that  his  arm 
was  strong,  since  the  day  had  witnessed  many  dauntless 
deeds  of  bravery  performed  by  him,  making  them  despair 
of  ever  conquering  such  a  hero  in  battle. 

So  it  came  to  pass  that  at  dead  of  night  Tur  set  forth  at 
the  head  of  a  small  band  of  picked  men  to  surprise  Minuchir 
in  his  tent.  But  the  King's  spies  were  not  sleeping,  and  so 
straightway  they  carried  the  news  of  the  evil  plan  unto  his 
ears,  and  thus  it  happened  that  when  courageous  Tur 
burst  upon  the  great  Minuchir  in  his  tent,  at  once  he  was 
surrounded,  and  when  he  would  have  fled,  behold,  the  King, 
dexterously  using  his  javelin,  hurled  him  from  his  saddle  to 
the  ground.  Then  with  his  cruel  dagger  he  severed  the 
head  of  Tur,  regarding  not  his  piteous  cries  for  mercy. 
Now  the  body  he  left  unto  the  wild  beasts,  but  the  head 
he  sent  as  a  trophy  unto  Feridoun,  pledging  neither  to 
rest  nor  tarry  until  the  death  of  trusting  Irij  be  fully 
avenged. 

Now  as  for  Selim,  when  he  heard  of  the  fate  of  his  broth- 
er, he  at  once  cast  about  for  a  new  ally;  and,  at  his  solici- 
tations, there  came  unto  him  the  giant  Kaku  who  was  of 
the  seed  of  Zohak.  Then,  deeming  it  prudent,  they  fell 
back  with  the  army,  taking  refuge  in  an  old  fort.  But 
Minuchir  in  hot  pursuit  soon  came  up  with  them,  and 
besieged  the  castle. 

One  morning,  however,  the  great  Deev,  Kaku,  hideously 
black  and  ugly,  sallied  boldly  forth  from  the  fort,  and  run- 
ning swiftly  toward  the  centre  of  the  besieging  army,  threw 
a  javelin  at  Minuchir  which,  fortunately,  fell  harmless 
before  it  reached  him.  But  retribution  was  swift  and  sure, 


MINUCHIR  THE  AVENGER  59 

for  the  King,  rushing  quickly  upon  the  Deev,  seized  him 
by  the  girdle,  and,  raising  him  high  in  the  air,  flung  him 
from  his  saddle  to  the  ground  with  such  fury  that  he  never 
moved  again.  Such  was  the  strength  and  prowess  of  the 
great  Minuchir. 

But  the  young  avenger  was  wise  as  well  as  strong  and 
brave,  and  so,  seeing  that  the  siege  threatened  to  last  for 
some  time,  he  now  sent  a  message  unto  Selim,  saying: 

"O  Slayer  of  thy  Brother!  behold,  I,  Minuchir,  chal- 
lenge thee  to  quit  the  fort,  and  boldly  meet  me  here,  that  it 
may  be  determined  unto  whom  God  giveth  the  victory." 

Now  as  Selim  could  not,  without  disgrace,  refuse  this 
invitation  to  single  combat,  he  descended  from  the  fort  to 
meet  Minuchir,  and  a  desperate  combat  was  the  result. 
But  though  the  fight  was  long,  and  Selim  no  unworthy  foe 
in  his  desperation,  yet,  in  the  end,  the  superiority  of  Minu- 
chir caused  him  to  prevail,  and  Selim  was  slain,  his  head 
being  severed  from  his  body  by  the  redoubtable  sword  of 
the  King. 

As  for  the  army  of  Selim,  when  the  soldiers  beheld  the 
head  of  their  leader  borne  upon  the  lance  of  Minuchir,  they 
fled  swiftly  unto  the  mountains  and  vanished  like  cattle 
whom  the  snow  hath  driven  from  their  pasture.  And,  being 
thus  at  a  safe  distance,  they  took  counsel  together  and 
chose  from  among  them  a  man,  prudent  and  gentle  of 
speech,  to  go  unto  Minuchir  and  speak  for  them.  Return- 
ing, therefore,  the  messenger  said: 

"O  Conqueror  of  the  World,  we  pray  thee  that,  looking 
down  upon  us  from  thy  glorious  height,  thou  wilt  have 
mercy  upon  us,  for  neither  hate  nor  vengeance  drove  us 
forth  against  thee,  but  only  this,  that  we  obeyed  the  will 
of  our  masters.  We  ourselves  long  only  after  our  homes, 


60  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

for  we  are  peaceful  men,  tillers  of  the  earth  and  keepers  of 
cattle,  and  we  pray  thee,  therefore,  that  we  be  permitted 
to  return  in  safety  whence  we  have  come.  We  ac- 
knowledge thee  our  Shah,  and  will  ever  be  faithful  and 
loyal  unto  thee,  for  we  perceive  that  not  only  art  thou 
brave,  but  noble  as  well." 

Now  when  Minuchir  heard  these  words,  he  said  kindly 
unto  the  messenger: 

"Let  every  man  lay  down  his  arms  and  go  his  way,  and 
may  joy  wait  upon  your  feet.  For  Minuchir,  like  the  great 
Feridoun,  desireth  naught  but  the  good  and  happiness  of 
his  people,  and  that  peace  may  dwell  once  more  in  the 
land." 

So  the  vanquished  army  passed  before  Minuchir,  each 
man  bearing  his  armor  and  weapons  of  battle,  and,  call- 
ing down  blessings  upon  his  head,  they  laid  them  at  his 
feet.  And  behold!  of  weapons  there  was  reared  such  a 
mighty  tower  that  Babel  would  have  paled  in  its  sight,  and 
the  polished  steel,  as  it  rose  tier  upon  tier  up  into  the  blue, 
glittered  dazzlingly  in  the  sunshine,  a  glorious  promise 
of  peace. 

And  presently  Minuchir,  having  disbanded  the  van- 
quished army,  set  out  at  the  head  of  his  warriors  for  the  city 
of  Feridoun,  his  vengeance  being  fully  accomplished.  And, 
being  apprised  of  his  approach,  his  grandsire  came  forth 
to  meet  him,  and  there  accompanied  him  a  glorious  train. 
Now  there  were  elephants  swathed  in  gold  and  jewels, 
warriors  arrayed  in  rich  attire,  and  a  large  multitude  clad 
picturesquely  in  garments  of  bright  hue,  while  over  them 
waved  flags  and  banners,  and  about  them  the  trumpets 
brayed,  and  the  cymbals  clashed,  and  sounds  of  rejoicing 
were  heard  everywhere. 


MINUCHIR  THE  AVENGER  61 

Now  beholding  his  grandsire  yet  some  distance  off, 
Minuchir  got  down  from  his  horse,  and,  running  to  meet 
him,  kissed  the  ground  before  him,  craving  his  blessing. 
So  Feridoun  blessed  Minuchir,  and  raised  him  from  the 
dust.  Then  he  bade  him  again  mount  his  horse,  and,  amid 
shouts  of  rejoicing,  they  entered  the  city  in  triumph.  But 
when  they  were  come  unto  the  royal  palace,  Feridoun, 
having  seated  Minuchir  upon  the  throne  of  light,  and 
placed  with  his  own  hands  the  crown  upon  his  head,  called 
unto  him  Saum,  the  son  of  Neriman,  saying  unto  him: 

"O  mighty  Warrior,  loyal  and  brave,  to  thee  specially 
do  I  commend  this  youth  to  nourish  him  for  full  sover- 
eignty, and  to  support  him  royally  with  thy  might  and 
mind,  both  thee  and  thy  house  forever." 

So  saying,  he  placed  the  hand  of  Minuchir  in  that  of 
Saum,  and  said: 

*Lo!  my  hour  of  departure  is  at  hand.  Soon  shall  I 
cumber  the  earth  no  more.  God,  in  his  goodness,  hath 
given  unto  me  the  desire  of  my  heart,  and  now  I  go  unto 
him  to  render  account.  May  he  be  merciful  unto  his  ser- 
vant, granting  unto  him  peace  in  the  life  to  come." 

Then  having  thus  spoken,  Feridoun  distributed  gifts 
unto  his  nobles  and  servants,  then,  withdrawing  into  soli- 
tude, he  bewailed  without  ceasing  the  evil  fate  of  his  sons, 
and  the  sorrow  they  had  caused  in  the  world.  But  daily 
he  grew  weaker,  and  at  last  the  light  of  his  life  went  out. 
Howbeit,  the  glory  of  his  name  liveth  even  unto  this  day, 
for  even  the  children  in  Persia  know  and  love  this  glorious 
Shah  of  Old. 

But  as  for  Minuchir,  he  mourned  for  his  noble  grandsire 
with  weeping  and  bitter  lamentation,  and  raised  above  him 
a  stately  tomb.  Then  when  the  seven  days  of  mourning 


62  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

were  ended,  lo,  he  put  upon  his  head  the  crown  of  the 
Kaianides,  and  girt  his  loins  with  the  red  sash  of  might 
and  the  nation  called  him  Shah,  and  he  was  beloved  in  the 
land. 

"The  army  and  the  people  gave  him  praise, 
Prayed  for  his  happiness  and  length  of  days. 

'Our  hearts,'  they  said,  'are  ever  bound  to  thee, 
Our  hearts,  inspired  by  love  and  loyalty.' " 


ZAL  OF  THE  WHITE  HAIR 

AMONG  all  the  great  heroes  who  had  such  vast 
influence  in  shaping  the  destinies  of  Iran,  there  is 
no  house  so  celebrated  as  that  of  Saum  Swar,  the 
mighty  Pehliva,  unto  whom  the  aged  Feridoun  especially 
committed  Minuchir.  Seistan,  which  is  to  the  south  of 
Iran,  was  the  hereditary  province  of  this  famous  warrior, 
and  here  was  bred  a  race  of  heroes  that  not  only  saved 
Persia  again  and  again  from  out  the  hands  of  her  foes,  but 
whose  marvellous  deeds  of  valor  have  filled  the  world  with 
wonder. 

Now  Saum  was  the  son  of  the  great  chieftain  Neriman, 
and  on  account  of  his  intrepid  bravery  had  been  made 
commander-in-chief  of  the  Persian  armies.  But,  though 
a  valiant  hero  upon  the  battle-field,  he  was  particularly 
celebrated  because,  more  than  once,  he  had  warred  against 
the  allied  hosts  of  Deevs,  and  come  off  victorious.  He 
also  conquered  the  furious  monster  Soham,  which  was  of 
the  color  and  nature  of  fire,  and,  bringing  it  beneath  obe- 
dient rein,  he  made  it  his  war-horse  in  all  his  later  battles 
with  the  Deevs. 

So  the  great  Pehliva,  girt  with  might  and  glory,  and 
smiled  upon  by  the  gracious  Feridoun,  passed  his  days  in 
happiness,  save  for  the  grief  that  for  long  years  he  was 
childless.  After  the  death  of  the  great  Shah,  however,  it 
came  to  pass  that  at  last  a  son  was  born  unto  him,  perfect 
in  face  and  limb,  and  fair  as  the  sun,  but,  by  some  strange 
63 


64  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

misfortune,  his  hair  was  silvery  white  like  that  of  an  aged 
man.    Now  the  poet  says  of  this  wonderful  baby: 

"His  hair  was  white  as  a  goose's  wing, 
His  cheek  was  like  the  rose  of  spring, 
His  form  was  straight  as  a  cypress  tree, 
But  when  his  sire  was  brought  to  see 
That  child  with  hair  so  silvery  white 
His  heart  revolted  at  the  sight." 

Yes,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  such  an  unfortunate  omen 
is  it  considered  in  Persia  to  have  light  hair  and  blue  eyes, 
that  in  spite  of  its  being  well  known  in  the  Pehliva's  house- 
hold that  he  longed  passionately  for  a  son  to  perpetuate 
his  line,  yet  the  infant  had  gazed  upon  the  light  for  seven 
days  ere  any  one  found  courage  to  announce  unto  him  the 
fact  of  the  baby's  birth. 

On  the  eighth  day,  however,  the  child's  nurse,  bold  as 
a  lioness,  went  in  unto  the  Pehliva,  and,  bowing  herself  low 
in  the  dust,  craved  of  her  lord  the  boon  of  speech.  Per- 
mission being  graciously  granted  unto  her,  therefore,  the 
woman  thus  spake: 

"Unto  the  sire  of  a  noble  house  I  bring  good  news. 
May  the  days  of  Saum  the  hero  be  happy !  May  he  live  to 
see  the  heart  of  his  enemies  rent  asunder!  And  now  re- 
joice, O  mighty  Pehliva,  for  God  hath  granted  unto  thee 
the  desire  of  thy  heart.  Behind  the  curtain  of  the  house 
of  women,  thou  hast  at  last  a  son,  a  moon-faced  boy 
who,  young  as  he  is,  yet  showeth  the  heart  of  a  lion.  Fresh 
from  the  Garden  of  Paradise,  he  is  beautiful  to  behold, 
with  nothing  amiss  except  that  by  some  ill-luck  his  hair 
is  white.  Fate  would  have  it  so.  But  in  spite  of  this 
misfortune,  the  stars  have  decreed  unto  him  a  great 


ZAL  OF  THE  WHITE  HAIR  65 

destiny.  Be  content,  therefore,  with  this  gift  of  God  as 
he  hath  sent  it,  nor  give  place  in  thine  heart  unto  in 
gratitude." 

Now,  thus  speaking,  the  woman  again  performed  obeis- 
ance and  departed.  Then  Saum  descended  from  his 
throne  and  made  haste  unto  the  apartments  of  the  women, 
where,  when  the  curtain  was  raised,  he  beheld  a  child  of 
extraordinary  beauty,  but  with  the  head  of  an  aged  man, 
the  like  of  which  he  had  never  seen  or  heard  tell  of  before. 
Appalled  at  the  sight,  and  filled  with  despair  at  this 
strange  trick  of  Fate,  which  he  feared  boded  misfortune 
unto  his  house;  also  dreading  the  jeers  of  his  enemies  who 
would  now  accuse  him  of  bearing  a  demon  child,  Saum, 
the  great  Persian  Pehliva,  departed  from  the  paths  of  wis- 
dom. For,  lifting  up  his  eyes  unto  Heaven,  he  murmured 
against  the  Lord  of  Destiny,  and  he  said: 

"O  God  of  all  the  World,  eternally  just  and  good! 
Source  of  all  light  and  wisdom!  incline  unto  me,  and  mer- 
cifully hear  my  cry.  If  I  have  done  evil  in  thy  sight,  behold 
my  repentance  and  pardon  me,  for  lo!  I  am  bowed  in  the 
dust  at  thy  feet.  O  merciful  Ormuzd,  have  pity  upon  me, 
for  truly  my  soul  is  overwhelmed  that  unto  me  should  be 
born  a  son  who,  with  his  black  eyes  and  his  hair  as  white 
as  a  lily,  seemeth  to  be  of  the  race  of  Satan.  Alas!  alas! 
the  shame  of  it  is  greater  than  I  can  bear." 

Thus  spake  Saum  Swar  in  the  turmoil  of  his  soul,  and, 
with  heart  full  of  anger,  he  hastily  departed  from  the 
house  of  women,  cursing  the  fate  which  gave  unto  him 
such  a  child.  Not  so  was  it,  however,  with  the  gentle 
young  mother  who  gave  unto  her  baby  the  name  of  Zal, 
and  loved  him,  mother  like,  doubly  on  account  of  his 
misfortune. 


PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 


But  the  superstitious  people,  when  they  heard  of  the 
white-haired  child  born  unto  the  house  of  Saum  the  hero, 
straightway  whispered  together,  saying: 

"No  human  being  of  this  earth 
Could  give  to  such  a  monster  birth; 
He  must  be  of  the  Demon  race, 
Though  human  still  in  form  and  face. 
If  not  a  Demon,  he,  at  least, 
Appears  a  parti -colored  beast." 

And  behold !  the  nobles  of  the  court  expressed  much  the 
same  sentiment  when  they  said  warningly  unto  Saum : 

"  O  Pehliva  of  the  World,  truly  this  is  an  ominous  event 
which  will,  we  fear,  be  productive  of  naught  but  calamity 
unto  thee  and  thy  house.  Would  it  not  be  better  if  thou 
couldst  remove  him  out  of  sight?" 

Alas!  with  a  heart  overflowing  with  bitterness,  Saum  bore 
the  sneers  and  reproaches  which  everywhere  met  him  for 
some  time.  Then  his  superstitious  fears  getting  the  better 
of  him,  he  resolved,  though  with  a  sorrowful  heart,  to 
carry  the  unfortunate  babe  unto  Mount  Alborz  where, 
abandoned,  he  would  fall  a  victim  unto  the  beasts  of  prey. 

And  the  resolve  once  made,  in  vain  did  the  loving  mother 
plead  to  be  allowed  to  keep  her  babe;  in  vain  she  prom- 
ised to  hide  him  in  seclusion  so  sacred  that  the  sight  of  him 
should  never  again  offend  his  father's  eye;  all  was  useless! 
In  spite  of  tears  and  pleading,  little  Zal  was  taken  from  her 
loving  arms,  and  carried  away  unto  the  lonely  mountain, 
in  the  dead  of  night,  and  there  left  to  die. 

But  though  abandoned  by  his  most  unhappy  father, 
poor  little  Zal  was  not  forgotten  by  God,  who  knew  that  he 
would  yet  do  great  things  for  Persia.  Therefore,  he  pro- 
vided a  safe  and  happy  refuge  for  the  babe. 


ZAL  OF  THE  WHITE  HAIR  67 

For  behold!  upon  an  inaccessible  cliff  of  Mount  Alborz, 
whose  head  touched  the  stars,  and  upon  whose  crest  no 
mortal  foot  hath  ever  stepped,  the  great  Simurgh,  the  bird 
of  marvel,  had  builded  her  nest.  Far  beyond  the  reach  of 
man,  this  wondrous  nest,  fashioned  of  ebony  and  of  san- 
dal-wood, and  twined  about  with  aloe,  was  hidden  among 
the  great  white  cliffs,  threaded  thickly  with  veins  of  golden 
quartz.  Around  the  base  of  this  nest  of  marvel,  however, 
there  gleamed  the  stones  of  fire — the  amethyst,  the  topaz, 
and  the  ruby,  while  in  the  rocks  not  far  away  the  sunset 
fires  had  left  their  glow  in  the  heart  of  the  opal.  So  this 
bird  of  the  golden  plumage  was  happy,  for  she  loved  these 
precious  stones  because  they  flashed  back  unto  her  the  fire  of 
her  eye,  and  warmed  her  heart  with  their  gleaming  beauty. 

Now  the  Simurgh  is  a  giant  bird,  so  large  that  she  car- 
rieth  elephants  in  her  claws  unto  her  nestlings.  Yea  and 
her  feathers  are  of  pure  gold,  being  so  luxuriant  and  soft  as 
admirably  to  fit  her  for  the  protecting  cares  of  a  mother. 
Now  her  home  being  so  near  unto  the  stars,  and  in  her 
swift  flight  soaring  almost  unto  heaven's  gate,  it  is  not 
surprising  that,  by  the  people,  the  Simurgh  is  also  called 
the  Bird  of  God. 

So  at  least  on  this  fateful  night  she  proved  unto  the  for- 
saken babe  of  the  house  of  Saum,  who  lay  upon  the  hard 
ground,  thorns  for  his  pillow,  the  cold  earth  for  his  nurse. 
Now  the  night  was  dark,  for  great  black  clouds  which 
foretold  a  coming  storm  had  dimmed  even  the  light  of  the 
stars.  Then 

"A  voice  not  earthly  thus  addressed 
The  Simurgh  in  her  mountain  nest — 
To  thee  this  mortal  I  resign, 
Protected  by  the  power  divine, 


68  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Let  him  thy  fostering  kindness  share, 
Nourish  him  with  maternal  care; 
For,  from  his  loins  in  time  will  spring 
The  champion  of  the  world,  and  bring 
Honor  on  earth,  and  make  thy  name 
The  heir  of  everlasting  fame." 

And  not  in  vain  was  the  message,  for  the  great  mother 
bird  listened  unto  the  voice,  and,  peering  over  the  edge  of 
the  cliff,  she  spied  the  helpless  infant  lying  bereft  of  clothes 
and  wherewithal  to  nourish  it,  sucking  its  fingers  for  very 
hunger.  Now  her  own  young  nestlings  were  gathered  safe 
and  warm  under  her  soft  feathers,  and  as  she  thought  of 
this  human  parent  who  could  thus  leave  his  tender  off- 
spring upon  the  cold,  bare  rocks  to  die,  her  heart  beat  hot 
with  anger. 

Rising  quickly  from  her  nest,  therefore,  the  great  bird 
poised  for  a  moment  in  mid-air,  listening  to  make  sure 
that  all  was  well  in  her  nest,  then  the  strong  wings  moved1 
up  and  away  through  the  darkness  and  the  storm,  and 
circling  round  and  round  in  stately  flight,  she  swept  nearer 
and  nearer  unto  the  abandoned  babe.  Down  she  dropped 
at  last,  and  the  forlorn  little  one,  looking  with  wondering, 
tear-wet  eyes  upon  the  great  mass  of  soft  plumage  that 
seemed  to  have  been  borne  unto  him  upon  the  wings 
of  the  storm,  smiled  and  gurgled  and  cooed  with  de- 
light, reaching  out  his  baby  arms  toward  his  new-found 
friend. 

At  this  the  tender  mother  bird  first  caressed  little  Zal  with 
her  beak,  as  if  to  reassure  him,  then,  wreathing  him  with 
a  girdle  of  aloe,  in  which  she  fastened  her  talons  securely, 
up,  up,  she  soared  over  mountain  streams  and  rocky  cliffs, 
beyond  the  foot-hills  and  the  higher  peaks,  until  she 


ZAL  OF  THE  WHITE  HAIR  69 

reached  the  mountain  nest  hidden  amidst  the  stones  of 
fire.  Here,  a  sweet,  well-known  note  caused  the  nestlings 
to  cling  more  closely  together,  and,  in  the  newly  made 
space,  the  forsaken  child  cuddled,  finding  a  safe  and  happy 
retreat.  For  behold !  his  shelter  that  night  from  the  cruel 
storm  was  the  soft  golden  feathers  of  the  Bird  of  God. 

But  the  storm  and  the  darkness  passed,  and  in  the 
morning,  when  the  sunlight  touched  the  white  cliffs  and 
lighted  up  the  fires  in  the  ruby  and  the  opal,  the  great  bird 
was  aroused  from  slumber  by  a  strange  cry  beneath  her 
wings,  reminding  her  of  her  human  nestling,  and  the  new 
responsibilities  which  it  entailed.  Rising,  therefore,  upon 
her  strong  swift  wings,  she  flew  forth  to  find  food  for  the 
helpless  stranger  within  her  walls. 

Now  the  Simurgh,  being  a  wise  bird,  knew  only  too  well 
that  elephant's  flesh  would  be  quite  too  tough  for  her 
dainty  guest,  so  she  secured  nice,  tender  venison  for  break- 
fast. And  with  due  regard  for  courtesy  and  hospitality, 
baby  Zal  was  fed  with  the  very  choicest  morsels  before  her 
own  loved  brood  were  allowed  to  break  their  fast.  And 
though  accustomed  to  balmy  milk  instead  of  flesh,  the 
baby  laughed  in  glee  as  the  tender  bits  were  popped  into 
his  mouth,  now  by  the  mother  bird,  now  by  her  nestlings, 
and  thought  it  a  fine  breakfast — oh,  ever  so  much  better 
than  sucking  his  own  fat  thumbs! 

So,  nourished  and  protected  by  the  Simurgh,  Zal  flour- 
ished finely;  and  the  nestlings  were  no  less  kind  unto  the 
little  stranger  than  their  mother,  for  from  her  they  had 
learned  the  lessons  of  mercy  and  love.  Soon  upon  tender 
wing,  therefore,  they,  too,  were  bringing  dainties  unto  their 
human  playfellow.  And  so,  the  moons  and  the  years 
rolled  happily  by  for  white-haired  Zal,  as  he  lived  in  the 


70  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Simurgh's  home,  or  played  amidst  the  rough  jewels  upon 
the  crags  around  her  nest. 

But  Zal's  greatest  treat,  as  he  grew  older,  was  going  to 
school;  for  thus  the  wise  old  bird  named  the  wonderful 
excursions  upon  which  she  took  him.  Now,  of  course, 
geology  and  mineralogy  he  could  learn  at  home,  from  the 
jewelled  rocks  about  their  door;  but  as  for  astronomy, 
when  it  was  the  lesson  of  the  day,  quickly  he  would  mount 
into  his  golden  chariot,  which  was  his  foster-mother's  soft 
back,  and  then,  away  he  would  be  borne  gently  through 
the  air,  up,  up,  until  he  almost  thought  to  touch  the 
golden  sun,  and  all  the  silver  stars. 

And,  would  you  believe  it  ?  his  language  lessons  he  loved 
even  better,  for  then  would  the  glorious  bird  sweep  majes- 
tically down  to  earth,  near  to  the  dwellings  of  men,  and 
thus  did  Zal  learn  quite  early  to  speak  the  language  of  the 
children  of  Ormuzd,  though  he  thought  it  not  nearly  so 
beautiful  as  the  wonderful  notes  of  his  mother.  Oh,  those 
were  glorious  excursions!  but  best  of  all,  he  loved  his 
geography  lessons.  For  then,  upon  the  back  of  the  Bird 
of  Marvel,  he  sailed  over  the  -whole  world,  visiting  all  its 
places  of  interest,  and  storing  his  mind  with  knowledge. 
So,  take  it  all  in  all,  the  education  of  Zal  was  quite  com- 
plete, and  his  way  of  securing  it  most  happy. 

But  though  Zal  was  so  contented  and  well  cared  for  in 
his  mountain  home,  even  unto  the  time  when  he  was 
grown  into  a  glorious  youth,  for  his  own  natural  mother, 
in  the  stately  palace  of  Saum,  the  years  dragged  by  with 
muffled  feet,  bringing  no  balm  unto  her  wounded  heart. 
And  the  old  warrior,  his  father,  too,  suffered,  so  that  even 
the  remembrance  of  his  glorious  deeds  of  valor,  writ  large 
in  the  heart  of  the  Shah  and  the  people,  was  but  as  dust  in 


ZAL   OF  THE  WHITE  HAIR  71 

his  nostrils.  However,  no  word  of  repentance  crossed  his 
lips;  the  only  sign  of  remorse  was  to  be  seen  upon  his 
head,  for  the  raven  locks  of  the  great  Pehliva  had  become 
as  the  silver  poplar  in  whiteness.  Night  after  night,  too, 
he  was  haunted  by  strange  and  terrible  dreams,  so  that 
sleep  was  driven  from  his  pillow,  and  he  knew  neither  rest 
nor  joy. 

But  by  and  by,  as  neither  good  nor  evil  can  remain 
hidden  forever,  there  came  a  day  when  the  fame  of  the 
glorious  youth  of  Mount  Alborz,  whose  chariot  was  the 
Bird  of  Marvel,  whose  home  its  mountain  nest,  spread 
through  the  whole  land,  even  unto  the  ears  of  Saum,  the 
son  of  Neriman. 

Then  it  came  to  pass  that  one  night  Saum  dreamed  a 
dream  wherein  he  beheld  a  gallant  youth  of  martial  bear- 
ing riding  toward  him  at  the  head  of  a  troop  of  horsemen, 
with  a  banner  flying  before  him,  and  a  Mubid  upon  his 
left  hand.  And  the  Mubid  said  unto  Saum: 

"O  Unfeeling  Mortal,  who  in  thy  wickedness  cast  out 
thy  only  son  to  die,  disowning  him  because  his  hair  was 
white,  though  thine  own  resembleth  the  silver  poplar! 
How  long  must  thy  fair  young  offspring  be  left  unto  the 
tender  mercies  of  a  mountain  bird?" 

Now  hearing  these  words,  Saum  awakened  with  a  great 
cry,  and  so  terrible  was  his  distress  of  mind  that  he  hastily 
summoned  his  Mubids  and  questioned  them  concerning 
the  marvellous  youth  of  Mount  Alborz,  whether  this  could 
indeed  be  his  son,  saved  in  some  miraculous  way. 

Then  the  Mubids,  seeing  that  the  time  was  opportune, 
said  unto  Saum,  the  son  of  Neriman: 

"  O  father  more  cruel  than  the  lion,  the  tiger,  and  the 
crocodile — for  even  savage  beasts  protect  their  young, 


72  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

while  thou  didst  cast  out  thine  own,  because  a  mark  was 
set  upon  him  by  the  Creator — arise  and  seek  thy  child,  for 
since  he  is  in  the  guardianship  of  God,  having  a  great 
mission  to  perform  in  the  world,  surely  all  is  well  with  him. 
Pray  Heaven,  therefore,  to  forgive  thy  cruelty,  and  seek 
thy  child  in  the  wild  eyrie  of  the  Bird  of  God." 

Now  when  Saum  heard  these  words  of  promise  he  was 
truly  contrite  of  heart,  and  calling  about  him  his  army,  he 
hastened  quickly  unto  the  mountain.  And  there,  from  the 
foot  of  the  inaccessible  rock  which  seemed  to  pierce  the 
very  skies,  the  white-haired  old  warrior  beheld  his  son,  a 
youth  of  heroic  mould,  standing  near  unto  the  nest  of  the 
Simurgh,  gazing  like  a  young  King  out  over  the  world. 
Now  seeing  this,  the  pride  and  glory  of  fatherhood  awak- 
ened suddenly  in  the  breast  of  Saum,  and  his  desire  to  get 
near  unto  his  son  was  very  great;  but,  alas!  he  strove  in 
vain  to  mount  the  cliff. 

Then  the  great  Pehliva,  kneeling,  called  upon  God  in 
his  humility.  And,  behold!  seeing  that  his  repentance 
was  sincere,  the  All- Just  One  put  it  into  the  heart  of  the 
Simurgh  to  look  down  upon  the  warrior,  who  with  up- 
lifted, longing  arms  cried  eagerly  unto  his  son.  Conse- 
quently, as  the  father's  cry  mounted  up  unto  the  wondrous 
nest  amidst  the  stones  of  fire,  it  softened  toward  him  the 
tender  heart  of  the  great  mother  bird  who,  casting  a 
proud  glance  at  her  own  loved  offspring  circling  in  the  blue 
above  the  nest,  then  looked  sorrowfully  down  upon  the 
white-haired  youth  upon  the  cliffs  below  who  shot  out  into 
the  world  unpolished  gems  from  his  bow. 

Presently,  however,  rising  from  her  nest,  the  Bird  of 
God  circled  nearer  and  nearer  unto  the  youth,  finally  set- 
tling down  beside  him  upon  the  cliff.  Then,  throwing  aside 


ZAL  OF  THE  WHITE  HAIR  73 

his  bow  and  arrow,  Zal  stroked  the  golden  plumage  of 
his  kind  foster-mother,  questioning  her  as  to  the  proud 
warrior  and  his  host  who  tarried  upon  the  rocks  below. 
Whereupon,  first  caressing  him  lovingly  with  her  beak, 
the  Simurgh  then  said: 

"O  thou  my  Nestling!  verily,  I  have  reared  and  been 
unto  thee  as  a  mother,  but  now  the  time  is  come  when  I 
must  give  thee  back  unto  thy  people.  Forlo!  the  warrior 
who  gazeth  at  us  so  longingly  from  afar  is  thy  father,  Saum 
the  hero,  Pehliva  of  the  World,  greatest  among  the  great; 
and  he  hath  come  hither  to  seek  his  son.  And  behold! 
glory  and  splendor  await  thee  at  his  side." 

Now  as  the  youth  listened  unto  these  words,  his  eyes 
slowly  filled  with  tears  and  his  heart  with  sorrow,  for  he 
loved  his  mountain  home,  and  longed  not  for  greater 
splendor  than  that  which  was  already  his  in  the  glorious 
nest  of  the  Simurgh.  Flinging  his  arms  closely,  therefore, 
in  mute  caress  about  the  soft  neck  of  his  foster-mother,  for 
a  time  Zal  was  silent;  then  suddenly  raising  his  head,  he 
burst  forth  into  impassioned  speech,  and  he  said : 

"O  Wondrous  Bird  of  God,  art  thou  then  weary  of  me? 
Ah,  send  me  not  forth!  For  truly  thy  nest  is  unto  me  a 
throne,  thy  sheltering  wings,  a  mother's  arms.  In  thy 
golden  chariot  have  I  beheld  the  glories  of  the  world,  and 
now  I  desire  naught  but  to  remain  near  unto  thee  forever. 
Then  send  me  not  forth,  lest  I  die  with  longing  for  thee  and 
my  mountain  home." 

Now  at  this  proof  of  affection,  tears  filled  the  eyes  of  the 
kind  old  mother  bird.  But,  once  more  caressing  Zal  with 
her  golden  feathers,  she  said  unto  him  gently: 

"O  Glorious  Youth,  verily  it  is  not  for  want  of  love  I 
send  thee  forth!  Nay,  if  I  consulted  my  heart,  I  would 


74  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

keep  thee  beside  me  forever.  But  the  stars  indicate  for 
thee  a  great  destiny,  and  so  I  must  let  thee  go,  for  thy 
country  as  well  as  thy  father  shall  be  royally  blessed 
through  thee.  Comfort  thyself,  therefore,  and  take  heart. 
And  who  knoweth!  It  may  even  be  that  when  thou  hast 
experienced  the  joys  of  a  real  throne,  with  all  its  pomp 
and  splendor,  the  glories  of  the  wondrous  nest  will  be 
dimmed  in  thine  eyes.  But,  that  thou  mayest  always  re- 
member with  affection  thy  loving  foster-mother  who  saved 
and  reared  thee  among  her  little  ones;  that  thou  mayest 
still  feel  thyself  safe  under  the  shadow  of  her  wings,  take 
and  bear  with  thee  into  the  world  this  golden  feather  from 
her  breast,  and  when  thou  art  involved  in  difficulty  or 
danger  place  it  upon  the  fire.  I  will  then  come  unto  thee 
instantly  to  secure  thy  safety.  And  now,  O  my  Nestling, 

"Having  watched  thee  with  fondness  by  day  and  by  night, 
And  supplied  all  thy  wants  with  a  mother's  delight, 
Oh,  forget  not  thy  nurse — still  be  faithful  to  me, 
And  my  heart  will  be  ever  devoted  to  thee." 

And  now  right  sorrowfully  the  Simurgh  bade  the  youth 
mount  for  the  last  time  into  his  golden  chariot;  then  in 
graceful  circles  she  swept  slowly  down  unto  the  wondering 
father.  And  behold!  having  reached  the  ground,  the  Bird 
of  Marvel  placed  the  youth  in  the  outstretched  arms  of  his 
father,  saying  unto  Saum: 

"O  contrite  Pehliva,  receive  thy  son,  and  know  that 
never  royal  youth  was  more  worthy  of  diadem  and  throne. 
Let  thy  heart  rejoice  in  him,  therefore,  for  great  glory  shall 
he  bring  unto  thy  house." 

Then  Saum,  when  he  beheld  his  son,  with  body  like  unto 
an  elephant's  for  strength,  and  glorious  in  his  youthful 


Then  in  graceful  circles  she  swept  slowly  down  unto  the  wondering 
father. 


ZAL  OF  THE  WHITE  HAIR  75 

beauty,  bowed  low  before  the  Bird  of  God,  covering  her 
with  benison.  And  he  said: 

"O  Shah  of  Birds,  dwelling  so  near  unto  Heaven's  gate, 
truly  thou  art  the  Bird  of  Marvel  as  well  as  the  Bird  of 
God!  Mayest  thou  be  ever  safe  from  thy  enemies!  mayest 
thou  be  great  forever!" 

But  even  as  Saum  yet  spake,  the  wondrous  bird  flew 
upward  unto  her  nest,  leaving  father  and  son  together. 
Then  the  Pehliva  humbly  acknowledged  unto  Zal  his 
guilt,  entreating  forgiveness.  And  he  said: 

"O  Silver-crowned  Youth,  whose  glory  is  a  reproach 
unto  thy  father,  graciously  let  the  waters  of  forgetfulness 
cover  my  sins,  and  I  swear  unto  thee  that  never  again  will 
I  harden  my  heart  against  thee,  or  refuse  unto  thee  aught 
that  is  good." 

Then  reconciliation  having  been  made,  Saum  clothed  his 
son  in  rich  robes  worthy  a  king's  son,  and  mounting  him 
upon  a  superb  Arab  steed,  he  conducted  him  unto  the 
army.  Now  when  the  warriors  beheld  the  glorious  youth, 
they  shouted  for  joy,  and  the  army  being  set  in  motion,  the 
kettle-drummers,  mounted  upon  mighty  elephants,  sounded 
their  instruments,  the  tabors  were  beaten,  the  cymbals 
clashed,  and  great  rejoicing  filled  the  land  because  that 
Saum  had  found  his  son,  and  that  Zal  was  a  hero  among 
men.  And  above  this  rejoicing  host,  far,  far  up  in  the 
blue,  there  floated  the  wondrous  Bird  of  God,  who  accom- 
panied the  army  even  unto  the  gates  of  Seistan. 

Now  thus  it  was  that  Zal,  the  son  of  Saum,  clad  in  pur- 
ple, and  covered  with  honors,  returned  unto  the  palace 
from  which  he  had  been  cast  out,  a  naked  and  wailing 
babe.  And  when  clasped  in  the  glad  arms  of  his  beautiful 
mother,  who  wept  tears  of  joy  over  her  handsome,  white- 


76  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

haired  boy,  then,  indeed,  did  he  think  less  longingly  of  the 
wondrous  nest  amid  the  stones  of  fire.  But  again  and 
again  was  he  made  to  tell  of  his  wonderful  experiences  in  the 
Simurgh's  nest,  and  the  golden  feather  was  prized  by  all  as 
the  greatest  treasure  of  the  house  of  Saum. 

And  behold!  as  the  days  and  the  weeks  flew  by,  the 
wondrous  story  of  Zal  pierced  even  unto  the  ears  of  the 
great  Minuchir,  who  bade  his  son  Nuder  go  forth  unto 
Seistan  with  a  splendid  troop  of  horsemen,  in  order  to  bring 
the  great  Pehliva  and  his  newly  found  son  unto  the  court 
to  receive  the  royal  congratulations. 

So  father  and  son  made  ready,  and  when  they  were 
arrived  at  the  gates  of  the  Shah,  behold,  Saum  was  first 
conducted  into  the  presence  of  the  great  Minuchir.  Now 
the  King  was  seated  in  all  his  royal  robes  upon  the  throne 
of  light,  while  upon  his  right  hand  sat  Karun  the  Pehliva. 
Receiving  Saum  most  graciously,  therefore,  the  monarch 
bade  him  be  seated  upon  his  left  hand.  Then  he  ques- 
tioned him  as  to  the  wondrous  story  of  Zal;  and  Saum  re- 
lated everything  unto  the  Shah,  hiding  not  his  own  evil 
deed.  Then  when  all  was  told,  Minuchir  commanded  that 
Zal  be  brought  into  his  presence. 

So  the  nestling  of  a  mountain  bird,  clad  in  robes  of 
splendor,  was  conducted  by  the  chamberlains  into  the  great 
audience-room  of  Kings,  and  the  Shah,  amazed  at  his  royal 
appearance,  after  welcoming  the  youth,  said  unto  Saum : 

"O  Pehliva  of  the  World!  Verily,  the  heart  of  the 
Shah  rejoiceth  in  this  young  hero  born  to  be  a  glory  unto 
the  land  of  Iran.  Guard  him  well,  therefore,  teaching  him 
the  arts  of  war  and  the  pleasures  and  customs  of  the  ban- 
quet. For  how  should  one  reared  in  the  nest  of  a  mountain 
bird  be  familiar  with  these  things?" 


ZAL  OF  THE  WHITE  HAIR  77 

Then,  after  talking  pleasantly  with  Zal  for  some  time, 
the  Shah  bade  his  Mubids  cast  the  horoscope  of  this  child 
of  promise.  And  lo!  it  was  found  that  the  stars  would 
bring  naught  but  good  unto  the  son  of  Saum;  that  he 
would  outlive  every  warrior  of  the  age,  and  be  the  defence 
of  Iran  for  hundreds  of  years. 

Now  these  prophecies  so  delighted  Minuchir  that  he 
presented  Zal  with  a  beautiful  Arabian  horse  and  gorgeous 
armor,  and  as  he  left  the  audience-room  slaves  poured 
musk  and  amber  before  him.  And  unto  Saum  the  Shah 
gave  Indian  swords  in  gold  scabbards,  rubies,  a  throne 
adorned  with  turquoises,  a  crown  and  girdle  of  gold,  and 
finally,  a  charter  that  vested  him  with  the  sovereignty  of 
Kabul,  Zabul,  and  Ind.  Then  he  bade  that  the  Pehliva's 
horse  be  brought,  and  sent  him  rejoicing  back  unto 
his  land. 

But  it  was  not  to  idleness  that  Zal  returned,  after  his  visit 
unto  the  court  of  the  great  Minuchir.  For,  in  accordance 
with  the  wishes  of  the  Shah,  he  was  now  placed  under  the 
care  of  renowned  instructors,  and  daily  he  increased  in 
wisdom  and  accomplishments,  so  that  his  fame  filled  the 
land.  However,  the  Mubids  were  not  his  only  teachers,  for 
often  when  tired  of  the  pomp  and  splendor  of  his  father's 
court,  his  heart  would  fill  with  longing  for  his  mountain 
home.  Then  climbing  up  unto  his  airy  balcony,  presently 
he  would  hear  a  great  flapping  of  wings,  and  lo!  there  was 
his  golden  chariot,  into  which  he  would  quickly  mount, 
and  then,  away,  away,  wherever  his  fancy  led.  Now  during 
these  marvellous  journeys  so  great  was  the  sense  of  free- 
dom and  power  which  he  enjoyed,  that  he  envied  not  all 
the  kings  of  earth;  nay,  not  even  the  great  Minuchir  upon 
his  throne.  And  this  is  not  to  be  wondered  at.  For  truly 


78  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

such  delight  is  seldom  accorded  to  mortals.  It  cometh,  we 
are  told,  but  once  in  a  thousand  years,  and  then  only  unto 
the  white-haired  wonder  child  of  a  Simurgh.  Happy  Zal! 

But  not  even  a  wonder  child  can  always  remain  young 
and  free  from  responsibility,  and  so  the  time  came  when 
Zal  was  called  upon  to  fight  the  battles  of  his  country,  and 
also  to  rule  in  his  father's  stead,  when  he  was  absent  fight- 
ing against  the  Deevs.  In  all  these  things  the  son  of 
Saum  proved  himself  to  be  a  real  hero,  being  not  only 
valiant  and  wise,  but  also  beneficent  in  his  power. 

Then  a  thrilling  experience  happened  unto  Zal  the  son 
of  Saum,  for  he  fell  deeply  and  irrevocably  in  love  with 
fair  Rudabeh,  the  daughter  of  the  King  of  Kabul.  The 
poet  says  of  this  princess,  in  describing  her  beauty: 

"  Oh,  wouldst  thou  make  her  charms  appear, 
Think  of  the  sun  so  bright  and  clear, 
And  brighter  far,  with  softer  light, 
The  maiden  strikes  the  dazzled  sight. 
Think  of  her  skin,  with  what  compare  ? 
Ivory  was  never  half  so  fair! 
Her  stature  like  the  Sabin  tree. 
Her  eyes,  so  full  of  witchery, 
Glow  like  narcissus  tenderly. 
Her  arching  brows  their  magic  fling, 
Dark  as  the  raven's  glossy  wing. 
Soft  o'er  her  blooming  cheek  is  spread 
The  rich  pomegranate's  vivid  red, 
Her  musky  ringlets  unconfined 
In  clustering  meshes  roll  behind. 
Possessed  of  every  sportive  wile, 
'Tis  heaven,  'tis  bliss,  to  see  her  smile." 

Now  Zal  did  see  Rudabeh  smile  one  moonlight  night 
upon  her  balcony,  and  straightway  he  vowed  to  win  her  for 


ZAL  OF  THE  WHITE  HAIR  79 

his  bride,  though  all  the  world  opposed.  And  that  there 
would  be  opposition  enough  Zal  knew  quite  well,  for  the 
King  of  Kabul  was  of  the  hated  seed  of  Zohak  and  there- 
fore under  a  ban.  But  Zal  determined  to  conquer  in  spite 
of  this  drawback,  for  not  only  did  he  love  the  princess,  but 
she  also  loved  him,  saying  stubbornly  unto  those  who 
would  have  persuaded  her  of  her  folly: 

"My  attachment  is  fixed,  my  election  is  made, 
And  when  hearts  are  enchained,  'tis  vain  to  upbraid. 
Neither  Kizar  nor  Faghfur  I  wish  to  behold, 
Nor  the  monarch  of  Persia  with  jewels  and  gold. 
All,  all  I  despise,  save  the  choice  of  my  heart, 
And  from  his  beloved  image  I  never  can  part." 

But  alas  for  the  lovers!  When  the  mighty  Saum  heard 
of  the  folly  of  Zal,  he  was  so  overwhelmed  with  anger  and 
dismay  that  in  his  great  distress  of  mind  he  cried  out  bit- 
terly: 

"Ah,  woe  is  me,  for  my  son, whom  a  mountain  bird  hath 
reared,  is  become  a  prey  unto  wild  desires,  and  who  can 
foretell  the  end?" 

But  the  anger  of  Saum  was  mild  compared  with  that  of 
Minuchir.  For  when  he  heard  the  ill  news,  at  once  he 
commanded  Saum  to  go  straight  to  Kabul,  there  to  tarry 
until  he  had  burned  the  palace  of  Mihrab,  and  utterly 
destroyed  his  whole  family  and  all  who  served  him,  since 
he  willed  that  the  entire  serpent  brood  of  Zohak  be  wiped 
from  the  earth. 

Then  to  complicate  matters  still  further,  Mihrab,  when 
he  learned  the  Shah's  decree,  straightway  determined  in 
his  terror  to  slay  the  Princess  whose  folly  was  causing  all 
the  trouble.  But  Rudabeh  faced  her  father  proudly,  and 
as  the  Queen  interceded  in  her  behalf,  offering  to  go  alone 


80  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

unto  the  mighty  Saum  to  beg  for  mercy,  the  King  relented 
and  Rudabeh  was  saved. 

But  while  these  events  were  happening  in  Kabul,  Zal 
was  not  idle.  Going  straight  to  his  father,  he  pleaded  most 
eloquently  for  his  love,  reminding  Saum  that  when  a  help- 
less babe  he  had  cast  him  out  to  die,  and  that  now  once 
more  he  threatened  his  happiness.  He  also  recalled  unto 
his  father's  mind  his  promise  never  to  refuse  his  son  aught 
that  his  heart  desired;  and  so,  being  thus  beset,  Saum 
finally  withdrew  his  opposition.  And  not  only  that,  but  he 
also  gave  unto  his  son  a  strong  letter  of  pleading  to  carry 
unto  the  Shah. 

So  once  more  Zal  set  out  for  the  Court,  this  time  to  be- 
siege the  great  Minuchir.  And  here  he  had  no  easy  time, 
for  the  Shah,  determining  to  try  the  young  hero,  instructed 
that  his  Mubids  should  propound  unto  him  six  hard  riddles, 
most  difficult  of  solution,  in  order  to  test  his  wisdom.  But 
Zal  answered  them  every  one,  and  all  the  Court  wondered 
at  his  great  intelligence.  Then  the  King  required  that  he 
give  proof  of  his  physical  prowess,  and  in  the  tournament 
which  followed,  behold,  Zal  outstripped  every  competitor, 
arousing  the  greatest  enthusiasm  by  his  remarkable  exhibi- 
tions of  skill  and  strength  and  courage.  But  it  was  the 
Mubids  who  finally  gained  the  day  for  Zal,  as  you  shall  hear, 
for,  after  consulting  the  stars,  they  said  unto  Minuchir: 

"O  Shelter  of  the  Universe!  Lo,  in  the  Book  of  Fate  it 
is  written  that  the  love  of  Zal  and  Rudabeh  shall  shine  as 
the  stars,  for  from  their  union  shall  spring  a  son,  beside 
whom  all  the  heroes  of  the  world  shall  pale.  Long  life, 
courage,  strength,  and  honor  shall  be  his,  and  in  the  hour 
of  peril  the  great  Shahs  of  Iran  will  never  call  upon  him 
in  vain." 


ZAL  OF  THE  WHITE  HAIR  81 

Now  hearing  this,  Minuchir  could  not  reasonably  with- 
hold his  consent,  so  quickly  the  gallant  young  lover 
speeded  him  back  unto  Kabul  where  a  most  gorgeous  wed- 
ding took  place.  And  after  this  great  event,  for  days  and 
days,  naught  was  heard  but  merry  sounds  of  rejoicing 
through  all  the  land.  For  the  people  loved  White-haired 
Zal,  and  their  hearts  were  glad  because  of  his  victory. 

But  the  happiest  time  for  the  lovers  was  when,  the  fuss 
and  parade  all  over,  they  were  allowed  to  settle  down 
amid  the  roses  and  fruits  of  their  vine-wreathed  home. 
Yea,  and  here,  for  many,  many  moons,  the  young  chief- 
tain and  his  fair  bride  lived  happy  as  it  is  ever  given  unto 
mortals  to  be. 

But  alas !  One  day  there  was  darkness  and  gloom  in  the 
thicket  of  roses,  where  the  night-bird  trilled  his  song  unto 
the  drooping  flowers.  There  was  darkness  also  upon  an 
inner-room,  for  the  shadow  of  death  hovered  over  the  fair 
Princess,  who  lay  ill  and  in  terrible  peril,  the  court  physi- 
cians having  given  up  all  hope  of  her  life. 

Now  for  a  time,  after  hearing  this  dire  verdict,  Zal  sat 
stupefied  with  sorrow;  but  suddenly  as  he  gazed  blindly 
at  the  dying  fire,  he  thought  of  the  Simurgh's  plume.  Paus- 
ing not  an  instant,  therefore,  he  quickly  secured  the 
beauteous  golden  feather,  and  laid  it  softly  upon  the  fire. 
Then  with  bated  breath  he  waited,  listening!  listening! 
and  lo!  in  a  moment  there  came  the  rushing  sound  as  of  a 
tempest,  the  wings  of  the  Simurgh  gleamed  in  the  dark- 
ness, and  the  great,  soft  mother  bird  stood  beside  her 
foster-child. 

And,  oh!  how  Zal's  eyes  lighted  up  with  joy  and 
hope  as  he  threw  his  arms  about  her  soft  golden  neck,  and 
leaned  upon  her  gorgeous  plumage!  Waiting  not  for 


82  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

him  to  speak,  however,  the  Bird  of  God  said  caressingly 
untoZal: 

"O,  thou  my  Nestling!  Wherefore  art  thou  troubled? 
And  why  do  I  see  the  eyes  of  the  lion  wet  with  tears?" 

Then  quickly  Zal  told  unto  his  foster-mother  of  the  great 
joy  that  had  come  unto  him,  followed,  alas,  by  the  present 
sorrow,  unto  all  of  which  the  Simurgh  listened  attentively. 
And  the  story  told,  bidding  him  be  of  good  cheer,  the  lov- 
ing mother  bird  whispered  a  few  directions  in  his  ear, 
after  which  away  she  flew  back  to  her  mountain  nest. 

But  Zal  speeding  him  to  carry  out  the  directions  of  the 
Simurgh,  soon  joy  reigned  once  more  in  the  bower  of  roses, 
for  Rudabeh  was  out  of  danger.  Yea;  and  not  only  that, 
for  with  the  Bird  of  God,  tucked  safely  under  her  soft  wing, 
had  come  a  priceless  gift  unto  Zal  and  Rudabeh — a  splen- 
did young  son  to  crown  their  happiness.  And  now  Ruda- 
beh, too,  loved  the  beautiful  Simurgh,  with  a  love  almost 
as  great  as  that  of  Zal  himself,  because  the  golden  chariot 
had  brought  her  babe  so  safely.  And  behold!  they  called 
the  boy  Rustem,  which  meaneth  "delivered";  for,  said  the 
Mubids,  while  he  liveth  will  he  ever  stand  between  Persia 
and  her  foes. 


RUSTEM  THE  WONDER  CHILD 

NEVER,  I  suppose,  in  the  legends  of  any  land  is 
there  given  account  of  so  wonderful  and  prodigious 
a  child  as  Rustem,  the  son  of  Zal. 

Now  he  was  as  fair  as  a  nosegay  of  lilies  and  tulips,  we 
are  informed,  and  when  but  a  day  old  he  was  so  tall  and 
strong  and  vigorous  that  he  seemed  to  have  been  born 
a  whole  year.  You  will  not  be  surprised  to  hear,  therefore, 
that  at  first  he  required  the  milk  of  ten  nurses,  so  great 
was  his  hunger;  and  when  he  was  weaned,  his  food  was 
bread  and  meat,  and  he  ate  as  much  as  five  men.  Now  by 
all  this  you  will  see  that  the  babe  was  a  true  wonder  child; 
but  then  that  was  to  be  expected,  since  he  was  brought  by 
the  Simurgh  from — who  knows  what  enchanted  region  ? 

And  never,  I  am  equally  sure,  was  there  greater  rejoic- 
ing over  the  coming  of  a  babe!  For,  when  the  tidings  sped 
forth  that  unto  Zal  the  hero  a  son  was  born,  behold,  the 
whole  land  of  Iran  was  given  over  to  feasting  and  rejoicing 
— even  the  very  poor  sharing  in  the  general  mirth;  for  so 
great  was  the  satisfaction  of  the  great  Shah  over  the  coming 
of  this  child  of  promise,  foretold  by  the  Mubids,  that 
thousands  of  dinars  were  given  away  in  charity  through- 
out the  land. 

But  who  shall  describe  the  joy  of  the  two  grandfathers  ? 
— particularly  that  of  King  Mihrab,  who  became  so  puffed 
up  with  pride  that,  like  a  great  gas-inflated  balloon,  he 
threatened  any  minute  to  fly  off  into  space,  or  to  burst 
with  joy.  The  father  of  Zal,  however,  was  away  fighting 
the  Deevs  of  Mazinderan  at  this  time,  so  his  son  sent  swift 
83 


84  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

messengers  to  carry  unto  him  the  good  news,  and  Zal  sent 
with  them  a  likeness  of  Rustem  worked  in  silk,  represent- 
ing him  upon  a  horse,  armed  like  a  warrior,  and  bearing  in 
his  hands  a  cow-headed  mace.  Now  when  the  old  cham- 
pion beheld  the  image  of  this  lion's  whelp,  it  made  him 
almost  delirious  with  delight.  Returning  thanks  unto 
Ormuzd  for  this  splendid  gift  unto  his  house,  therefore, 
the  old  warrior  then  poured  mountains  of  gold  before  the 
messengers,  and  distributed  munificent  gifts  unto  all  his 
army. 

As  for  Rustem,  he  continued  to  grow  in  wonder  with  his 
years.  At  three,  it  is  said,  he  rode  upon  horseback;  and  in 
his  eighth  year  he  was  as  tall  and  powerful  as  any  hero  of 
his  time.  In  fact,  so  great  was  his  physical  perfection,  that 
the  chronicles  and  the  poet  unhesitatingly  declare  of  him: 

"In  beauty  of  form  and  vigor  of  limb 
No  mortal  was  ever  seen  equal  to  him." 

But  though  twice  four  years  had  rolled  over  his  head, 
the  eyes  of  Saum  had  not  yet  been  gladdened  by  the  sight  of 
his  wonderful  grandson.  Finally,  however,  the  war  was 
over  and,  at  the  head  of  a  splendid  retinue  of  warriors,  the 
aged  Prince  set  out  for  Zaboulistan,  the  home  of  Rustem 
and  his  noble  father,  the  White-haired  Zal. 

And  behold!  when  the  old  warrior  was  yet  a  day's  jour- 
ney from  the  city,  Rustem,  with  a  gorgeous  train,  went  forth 
to  meet  him,  for  he  longed  to  hear  his  grandsire  tell  of  war 
and  battle,  which  his  soul  loved  and  longed  for,  and  in  his 
eagerness  he  could  not  wait.  So  his  father  let  him  go,  but 
not  alone,  for  as  the  young  Prince  passed  through  the  city 
gates,  his  body-guard,  mounted  upon  coal-black  steeds, 
rode  in  advance,  their  golden  maces  and  battle-axes  gleam- 


RUSTEM  THE  WONDER  CHILD  85 

ing  in  the  sun,  while  above  them  waved  the  red  flag  of  the 
house  of  Zal.  Then  followed  the  elephants,  upon  whose 
backs,  seated  in  gayly  decked  howdahs,  rode  the  lords  and 
nobles  of  the  land,  their  waving  plumes  and  bright  ensigns 
making  them  appear  like  a  troop  of  gorgeous  butterflies. 
And  following  these  came  a  multitude  of  young  warriors, 
the  flower  of  Iran,  riding  beautiful  Arab  horses,  with  swords 
at  their  sides,  and  long  spears  resting  upon  their  saddle- 
bows; and  there  was  music,  too,  for  the  drums  beat,  the 
cymbals  clashed,  and  the  trumpets  brayed,  filling  the  air 
with  sounds  of  rejoicing.  Thus  rode  young  Rustem  forth 
to  greet  and  do  honor  unto  his  illustrious  grandsire,  Saum 
the  son  of  Neriman. 

And  lo!  when  Rustem  beheld  the  retinue  of  Saum  yet 
a  long  way  off,  he  commanded  his  own  attendants  to  stand 
still,  while  he,  dismounting  from  his  great  war  elephant, 
went  forward  on  foot.  Then  when  he  was  come  near 
enough  to  behold  the  face  of  his  grandsire,  he  straightway 
touched  with  his  eyelashes  the  ground  before  his  feet,  say- 
ing unto  him: 

" O  Pehliva  of  the  World!  Greatest  of  the  great  among 
the  defenders  of  Iran!  Behold,  I  am  Rustem,  thy  grand- 
son, and  much  I  have  longed  to  see  thee!  And  now  I 
crave  thy  blessing  that  I  may  return  in  happiness  unto 
Zal,  my  silver-crowned  father." 

Now,  beholding  the  youth,  Saum  was  struck  dumb  with 
wonder,  for  he  saw  that  not  half  had  been  related  unto  him 
as  to  the  boy's  stature  and  grace.  Filled  with  delight,  the 
old  warrior  commanded  his  elephant  to  kneel,  and  having 
descended,  he  raised  and  blessed  his  grandson.  Then, 
having  seated  him  in  the  howdah  beside  him,  the  two  rode 
side  by  side  into  Zabulistan. 


PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 


And  how  the  two  enjoyed  that  journey!  Also,  how  they 
talked,  or  rather  Rustem  did!  But  first,  he  gazed  and 
gazed  in  open  delight  at  the  great  warrior  by  his  side,  con- 
cealing not  his  admiration  and  pride,  for  though  a  giant  in 
size,  the  heart  of  Rustem  was  that  of  a  child.  Then  he 
said  unto  the  old  man: 

"O  my  grandfather,  now  I  perceive  that  I  am  sprung 
from  thee,  and  I  rejoice.  For  my  desires  are  not  after 
pleasure,  neither  do  I  think  of  play,  or  rest,  or  sleep;  but 
ever  and  always  I  long  to  be  a  hero,  fighting  fierce  bat- 
tles and  performing  deeds  of  valor.  But  most  of  all,  just 
now,  I  crave  a  horse  of  my  own,  and  a  hard  saddle  such 
as  the  Turanian  riders  use;  a  coat  of  mail,  too,  and  a  hel- 
met like  those  thy  warriors  have.  Then  with  my  lance, 
and  my  arrows  in  which  I  delight,  I  will  vanquish  the 
enemies  of  our  house  and  of  Iran,  and  my  courage  shall  be 
like  unto  thine  and  that  of  my  noble  father.  Then  thy 
heart  will  rejoice,  O  my  grandsire,  and  side  by  side  we 
will  fight  the  battles  of  the  great  Shah  and  of  Iran." 

Now  when  Saum  heard  these  words  he  was  both 
amazed  and  delighted,  and  he  blessed  the  boy  yet  again, 
promising  him  that  as  soon  as  he  reached  the  stature  of  his 
father,  he  should  have  his  heart's  desire.  And  so  great 
was  his  joy  and  pride  in  his  grandson  that  his  eyes  could 
not  cease  from  gazing  upon  the  bright,  eager  face  of  the 
youth.  And  he  said  unto  him: 

"O  my  young  Hero,  valiant  of  heart,  for  more  than  a 
hundred  years  have  I  been  the  chief  of  the  Princes  of  Iran, 
and  great  are  the  honors  that  have  come  unto  me,  yet 
never  have  my  eyes  been  gladdened  as  in  thee.  Verily, 
being  now  full  of  years,  I  fear  that  my  fighting  days  are 
almost  over,  but  I  rejoice  that  in  Rustem  the  house  of 


RUSTEM  THE  WONDER  CHILD  87 

Saum  will  still  live  and  shine  as  the  sun  in  glory.  And  to 
this  end,  it  behooveth  thee  to  grow  up  strong  and  valiant 
and  wise  like  unto  thy  father  and  the  other  heroes  of  thy 
house.  Then  will  the  heart  of  thy  grandsire  indeed  rejoice 
in  thee,  and  all  will  be  well  in  the  land." 

But  alas!  The  home  pleasures  of  a  warrior  are  of  short 
duration,  and  so  scarcely  a  moon  had  run  her  course 
before  Saum  was  again  called  unto  the  field  of  battle. 
During  the  whole  of  his  stay,  however,  he  insisted  upon 
having  Rustem  always  with  him,  and  when  finally  he  was 
obliged  to  go,  he  said  unto  Zal: 

"Remember,  O  my  son,  that  when  this  child's  stature 
is  equal  to  thine  own,  he  is  to  have  a  horse  of  his  own 
choosing,  and  all  the  trappings  such  as  we  ourselves  wear  in 
battle.  Honor  this,  therefore,  as  my  parting  command." 

Now  hearing  this,  Rustem,  leaving  his  grandfather's 
side,  and  placing  himself  near  unto  White-haired  Zal,  said, 
smiling: 

"And  see,  father!  I  am  only  eight,  but  even  now  I  am 
almost  as  tall  as  thou.  Truly,  I  shall  not  have  long  to 
wait!" 

Then  the  two  warriors  smiled,  well  pleased  with  the 
boy;  and  as  they  embraced  in  parting,  Zal  gravely  prom- 
ised that  he  would  surely  remember. 

But  time  passed,  and  when  yet  two  summers  had  rolled 
over  the  head  of  Rustem,  behold,  one  night  he  was  awak- 
ened from  his  slumbers  by  a  great  noise  and  cries  of  dis- 
tress outside  his  door.  Starting  up  quickly  and  listening, 
therefore,  he  distinguished  the  cry: 

"The  King's  white  elephant!  The  King's  white  ele- 
phant! He  hath  broken  his  chain,  and  is  crushing  and 
trampling  the  people  to  death.  Flee!  Flee,  for  thy  life!" 


PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 


Now  Rustem,  when  he  caught  the  import  of  the  words, 
sprang  quickly  from  his  bed,  seized  his  grandfather's  great 
club,  and  commanded  the  guards  to  let  him  pass  into  the 
court  that  he  might  subdue  the  beast.  But  the  attendants 
barred  the  way,  saying  harshly: 

"  Rash  boy !  What  wouldst  thou  do  ?  The  night  is  dark, 
and  the  white  elephant  is  loose.  It  is  sure  death,  there- 
fore, to  venture  out.  Lend  thyself  not  unto  folly,  nor  yet 
give  place  unto  rage,  for  how  can  we  face  the  fury  of  thy 
father,  if  we  allow  thee  to  run  into  danger?" 

But  Rustem  did  give  place  unto  both  rage  and  disgust 
at  such  faint-heartedness.  For,  realizing  that  hundreds  of 
lives  were  in  danger  and  that  he  must  not  delay,  behold, 
he  struck  the  attendant  who  barred  his  path  so  terrible  a 
blow  that  his  head  rolled  off  like  a  ball  struck  from  a 
bat,  seeing  which,  the  others  quickly  made  way  for  him. 
Then  with  his  mighty  arms  and  his  strong  fists  he  broke 
down  the  barriers  of  the  door;  and  as  he  stood  without, 
he  beheld  how  all  the  warriors  were  sore  afraid  of  the  ele- 
phant, because  that  he  was  mad  with  rage.  Then  Rustem 
was  ashamed  for  them  in  his  soul,  for  he  said  within  him- 
self: 

"Verily,  what  counteth  the  life  of  one  against  a 
hundred?" 

Laying  his  club  upon  his  shoulder,  therefore,  he  hastened 
after  the  elephant;  and  when  he  was  come  near  unto  the 
furious  beast  he  ran  toward  him  with  a  loud  cry.  Then 
the  elephant,  beholding  the  son  of  Zal,  rushed  madly  for- 
ward, roaring  like  the  river  Nile,  and  raising  his  trunk  to 
strike.  But  Rustem,  regarding  the  huge  beast  with  a  cau- 
tious and  steady  eye,  fearlessly  struck  him  a  blow  with 
such  strength  and  vigor  that  the  iron  mace  was  bent  almost 


RUSTEM  THE  WONDER  CHILD  89 

double.  Now  at  this  the  elephant  trembled,  his  legs 
failed  under  him,  and  he  fell  with  a  crash  so  appalling  that 
you  had  said  a  mountain  had  fallen,  the  noise  of  it  being 
heard  afar.  As  for  Rustem,  when  he  had  done  this  deed, 
he  returned  unto  his  bed  and  slept  sweetly  until  morning. 

Now  the  next  day,  when  Zal  heard  of  the  prowess  of  his 
son,  he  was  delighted.  Sending  for  him  therefore,  he  said 
unto  him: 

"  O  my  glorious  son,  Ormuzd  hath  been  indeed  gracious 
unto  thee.  In  years  thou  art  but  a  child,  yet  there  is  no  one 
to  match  thee  in  courage,  strength,  and  stature.  On  this 
account,  therefore,  thou  shouldst  accomplish  great  things 
in  the  world;  and  that  thy  judgment  may  also  be  culti- 
vated, I  wish  to  send  thee  forth  upon  an  enterprise  which 
will  delight  thy  heart.  And  now  listen  carefully  unto  that 
which  I  shall  relate: 

"Many,  many  years  ago,  in  the  reign  of  the  glorious 
Feridoun,  thy  distinguished  grandfather,  the  aged  Neri- 
man,  was  sent  by  that  monarch  to  take  an  enchanted  fortress 
situated  upon  Mount  Sipend.  This  fort,  high  up  upon 
a  steep  eminence,  was  said  to  contain  beautiful  lawns  of 
freshest  verdure,  delightful  gardens  abounding  with  fruits 
and  flowers,  and  fair  castles  filled  with  marvellous  treasure; 
for  no  caravan  going  that  way  ever  returned.  Yet  no  eye 
had  ever  beheld  the  beauties  of  the  place,  and  no  army, 
however  strong  or  strategic,  had  ever  scaled  the  heights, 
for  the  fort  seemingly  was  impregnable. 

"Again  and  again  valiant  warriors  and  mighty  armies, 
at  the  command  of  the  Shah,  besieged  this  place  of  Deevs, 
but  in  vain.  And  alas!  thy  grandfather,  great  champion 
that  he  was,  fared  no  better,  for  after  a  whole  year's  siege, 
with  nothing  accomplished,  he  was  finally  killed  by  a 


90  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

rock  thrown  upon  his  head  by  one  of  the  evil  Deevs,  and 
as  a  consequence,  again  an  unsuccessful  army  returned 
unto  Feridoun. 

"Then  thy  grandfather  Saum,  being  deeply  afflicted  by 
the  fate  of  his  gallant  father,  himself  set  out  against  the 
fort.  But  though  he  wandered  for  months  and  years  over 
the  desert  looking  for  the  fortress,  he  could  not  find  the 
way  which  led  unto  the  place,  for  never  a  being  was  seen 
to  enter  or  come  out  of  the  gates.  So  finally,  other  duties 
obliged  him  to  give  up  the  appalling  enterprise,  and  he  was 
forced  to  return  without  having  avenged  his  father's  death. 

"And  now,  my  son,  it  seemeth  unto  me  that,  since  thou 
art  yet  unknown,  it  may  be  easy  for  thee  to  accomplish  our 
purpose.  But  thou  must  go  disguised,  since  the  keepers  of 
the  fort  will  not  then  suspect  thee,  and  thus  thou  mayest 
secure  entrance  unto  the  fortress.  It  occurreth  unto  me, 
also,  that  it  might  be  well  to  disguise  thyself  as  a  camel 
driver,  coming  in  from  the  desert  with  a  cargo  of  salt,  since 
it  is  said  that  there  is  nothing  in  that  country  valued  higher 
than  salt.  When  they  hear  that  this  is  thy  commodity,  the 
gates  of  the  fortress  will  surely  be  opened  unto  thee.  Then 
destroy  the  wretches  utterly,  root  and  branch,  for,  behold, 
they  have  cumbered  the  earth  too  long. 

"Now,  that  this  is  a  glorious  opportunity  by  which  to 
test  thy  prowess,  O  my  son,  I  need  not  say  unto  thee. 
But  of  this  I  am  sure,  if  thou  shalt  prove  thyself  successful 
in  this  endeavor,  surely  Saum,  thy  grandsire,  will  consider 
that  the  time  is  ripe  for  thee  to  have  thine  own  horse  and 
armor,  together  with  all  the  privileges  and  honors  of  a 
young  warrior.  Then  go  forth,  O  my  Wonder  Child,  and 
may  the  desert  blossom  beneath  thy  feet,  and  the  Blessed 
Ormuzd  wreathe  thy  brow  with  victory." 


RUSTEM  THE  WONDER  CHILD  91 

So  spake  the  White-haired  Zal,  and  as  Rustem  listened 
he  became  so  filled  with  delight  that  he  scarce  felt  the  earth 
beneath  his  feet.  For  his  soul  was  that  of  the  warrior,  and 
he  longed  mightily  for  adventure  and  combat;  yea,  they 
were  as  honey  unto  his  lips.  So  the  grass  grew  not  under 
his  feet,  but  right  speedily  he  prepared  a  great  train  of 
camels.  And  so  cunningly  was  the  train  disguised  that, 
had  you  seen  it,  you  would  have  said : 

"Why,  here  is  a  salt  merchant  starting  with  his  caravan 
across  the  desert!" 

But  the  salt  merchant  was  Rustem,  and  the  camel 
drivers  his  brave  companions  in  this  adventure.  And  be- 
sides salt,  the  huge  packing-cases  contained  Rustem's 
great  club  with  which  he  slew  the  white  elephant,  as  well  as 
all  the  arms  of  his  warriors.  But  so  well  was  all  arranged, 
and  so  clever  the  disguises,  that  the  breath  of  suspicion 
could  not  possibly  fall  upon  so  innocent-looking  a  train. 

So  right  merrily  they  set  forth,  and,  after  marching 
many  days,  they  at  last  approached  the  fortress.  And  lo! 
it  happened  even  as  Zal  had  thought,  for  when  the  keeper 
of  the  gate  saw  them  from  a  distance,  he  ran  quickly  to  the 
governor  of  the  fort,  saying: 

"My  Lord,  a  caravan  with  a  great  number  of  camel 
drivers  hath  arrived,  and,  judging  by  the  cases,  I  should 
say  they  have  salt  to  sell.  What  are  thy  commands?" 

Then  the  governor  replied  unto  the  gate-keeper: 
"Why,  this  is  most  fortunate!    It  was  but  yesterday 
that  my  chamberlain  reported  unto  me  that  the  Deevs  were 
famishing  for  salt.    Admit  them  by  all  means,  for  now  my 
people  can  be  satisfied." 

So  the  gates  were  thrown  open,  and  Rustem  and  his 
whole  train  entered  the  fortress.  And  behold!  after  cour- 


92  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

teous  greetings  had  been  exchanged  between  the  governor 
and  Rustem,  he  was  allowed  to  repair  unto  the  bazaar, 
taking  his  camel  drivers  with  him.  And  here  the  salt  mer- 
chant drove  a  brisk  trade,  for  thousands  crowded  around, 
eagerly  making  their  purchases,  some  giving  clothes  in  ex- 
change, some  gold,  and  some  jewels;  and  not  a  thought  of 
fear  or  suspicion  was  there  in  the  heart  of  any  one  of  them. 
Howbeit,  when  night  came  on  and  it  was  dark,  Rustem 
impatiently  drew  forth  his  weapons  from  their  hiding-place, 
and  quickly  arming  himself  and  his  companions,  started 
to  execute  his  plan  of  attack.  And  first,  advancing  toward 
the  governor's  mansion,  he  raised  his  furious  battle-cry; 
then,  with  one  blow  of  his  mace,  he  shattered  the  great 
iron  door,  and  fell  upon  the  guards.  Now  right  and  left 
he  levelled  them,  and  none  could  stand  before  him.  In- 
deed, so  fierce  and  overwhelming  was  he  that  you  would 
have  sworn  that  this  was  no  mortal  man,  but  the  Great 
White  Deev  himself,  falling  upon  his  brethren.  For  in  his 
fury,  not  only  did  he  slay  the  mighty  Deev  who  ruled  the 
fortress,  but  all  his  chiefs  as  well,  felling  some  to  the  earth 
with  his  club,  striking  others  down  with  his  sword,  so  that 
when  morning  was  come  not  a  Deev  was  left  alive  in  the 
fortress. 

And  this  accomplished,  Rustem's  next  step  was  to  storm 
the  governor's  treasure  palace.  Now  this  was  built  of 
stone,  and  the  gate  was  of  iron,  but  this  did  not  deter  for 
a  moment  the  mighty  son  of  Zal.  With  his  formidable 
battle-axe  he  soon  demolished  the  entrance,  and  then, 
pressing  eagerly  forward,  treasure,  priceless  treasure, 
everywhere  met  their  gaze. 

But  all  this  was  as  naught  in  comparison  with  what  was 
to  come,  for  in  the  heart  of  the  palace  they  finally  discov- 


RUSTEM  THE  WONDER  CHILD  93 

ered  a  marvellous  temple,  constructed  with  infinite  skill 
and  science,  beyond  the  power  of  mortal  man.  And  well 
Rustem  knew  that  here  the  cow-headed  mace  would  be  of 
no  avail,  for  it  was  plain  that  this  was  the  work  of  magic. 
Undaunted,  however,  the  son  of  Zal  drew  forth  from  his 
breast,  at  this  crisis,  a  beautiful  golden  feather,  which,  ap- 
plying to  the  lock,  the  door  immediately  flew  open,  re- 
vealing a  most  gorgeous  sight.  For  lo!  there  were  rubies, 
and  emeralds,  and  diamonds,  and  opals,  amethysts  and 
onyx,  turquoise  and  pearls,  to  say  nothing  of  crowns  and 
girdles,  sceptres  and  thrones  of  pure  gold,  inlaid  with 
jewels.  Also,  there  were  tapestries  and  rugs,  brocades 
and  silks,  carvings  and  armor,  together  with  heaps  and 
heaps  of  glittering  coins.  But  words  cannot  describe  it, 
for  truly  never  in  the  world  was  there  such  a  gorgeous 
sight  as  that  treasure  palace  of  the  enchanted  fortress. 

And  now  a  problem  confronted  Rustem,  for  he  was  puz- 
zled to  know  what  to  do  with  such  enormous  and  valuable 
spoils.  He  therefore  sent  a  messenger  unto  Zal  to  an- 
nounce his  victory,  and  to  receive  directions  as  to  the 
treasure.  Then  Zal,  rejoicing,  sent  unto  Rustem  two 
thousand  camels  to  bring  away  the  booty,  thinking  this 
number  sufficient.  But  alas!  when  these  were  all  loaded 
there  was  still  much  treasure  remaining,  for,  you  see,  it  was 
the  wealth  of  thousands  of  caravans.  Having  taken  all  they 
could,  however,  Rustem,  following  the  instructions  of  his 
father,  then  burned  the  place  with  fire,  so  that  naught  re- 
mained of  it.  Then,  his  work  being  finished,  lo,  he  depart- 
ed back  unto  his  father. 

But,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  the  chronicles  yet  record 
that  all  this  treasure  was  as  nothing  unto  Rustem  in  com- 
parison with  the  joy  in  battle,  the  delight  in  conquest  which 


94  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

he  now  knew  for  the  first  time  outside  his  dreams.  Again 
and  again  on  the  homeward  journey,  he  lived  over  the 
blissful  experience,  and  so  engrossed  in  it  did  he  finally 
become  that  the  glorification  which  awaited  him  upon  his 
arrival  home — his  father's  words  of  praise,  his  mother's 
fond  embrace — all  passed  over  him  but  half  noted,  for  his 
mind  was  busy  with  other  things.  After  much  pondering, 
however,  he  finally  said  unto  his  father: 

"O  my  silver-crowned  father,  one  of  these  days  I  am 
going  to  be  a  great  warrior;  of  that  I  feel  sure.  For  in 
battle  my  soul  knoweth  perfect  joy.  And  now,  having 
avenged  my  illustrious  grandsire,  surely  I  may  choose  my 
war  horse  and  enter  upon  my  career  as  a  warrior,  for  truly 
I  am  now  no  longer  a  child." 

So  ended  Rustem's  youth,  with  all  its  exploits  which  seem 
so  marvellous  for  a  child.  But  then  it  must  be  remembered 
that  he  was  not  an  ordinary,  but  a  wonder  child — which 
explains  it  all  perfectly. 


RUSTEM  THE  YOUNG  WARRIOR 

NOW  when  the  news  of  Rustem's  capture  of  the  en- 
chanted fortress  reached  the  ears  of  the  aged 
Saum,  at  once  he  sent  a  swift  messenger  unto  Zal, 
his  son,  commanding  that,  as  a  reward  for  his  valor,  Rustem 
should  now  be  allowed  to  choose  his  own  horse  and  enter 
upon  his  career  as  a  warrior. 

Accordingly,  without  delay,  a  proclamation  was  sent 
out  into  all  the  provinces  of  Persia,  commanding  that  upon 
the  first  day  of  the  approaching  Festival  of  Roses  all  the 
choicest  horses  in  the  land  should  be  brought  in  unto 
Zaboulistan  that  Rustem  might  choose  from  among  them 
his  steed  of  battle.  Now,  to  the  owner  of  the  lucky  horse 
chosen,  the  reward  was  to  be  mountains  of  gold,  but  the 
warning  was  also  given  that  should  any  man  hold  back 
a  steed  of  value  on  the  day  named,  the  weight  of  the  Shah's 
displeasure  would  certainly  fall  with  blighting  force  upon 
his  head. 

And,  oh,  what  a  horse-fair  this  proclamation  produced! 
For  the  fame  of  it  spread  away  beyond  the  borders  of  Per- 
sia, and  as  a  consequence,  for  weeks  before  the  day  ap- 
pointed, great  herds  of  horses  were  brought  in  daily  until, 
upon  the  hills  and  plains  without  the  walls  of  the  city,  there 
was  an  exhibition,  the  like  of  which  the  world  hath  not  seen. 

For,  in  addition  to  the  large  number  of  beautiful,  home- 
bred steeds,  the  hill-slopes  to  the  south  of  the  city  were 
white  with  the  tents  of  the  most  famous  breeders  from 
Kabul  and  the  Afghan  pasture-lands,  whose  choice  collec- 
95 


96  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

tions  of  animals  were  truly  a  joy  to  behold.  Then  on  the 
plain,  a  mile  or  so  from  the  gate  of  the  city,  were  tethered 
a  herd  of  heavy-built,  dark-maned  horses  brought  in  by  a 
horde  of  half-wild  Tartars,  wearing  black  sheepskin  caps 
and  carrying  long  spears.  And  near  unto  them  was  a  cara- 
van of  low-browed  men  from  the  shores  of  the  Caspian, 
who  rode  their  clean-limbed,  swiftly-moving  animals  fresh 
from  the  freedom  of  the  steppes,  at  full  speed,  standing 
erect  upon  their  saddles.  There  were,  too,  a  number  of 
superb  Arab  coursers,  for  which  more  than  one  princely 
sum  had  been  offered,  but  the  patriarchal  sheik  who  had 
travelled  with  them  from  the  distant  valley  of  the  Euphra- 
tes was  looking  for  still  greater  opportunities.  And  besides 
all  these,  there  were  also  scores  and  scores  of  single  horses, 
each  the  flower  of  the  flock  and  the  joy  of  his  master's  life, 
brought  in  not  because  of  the  reward,  but  through  fear  of 
punishment.  Now,  gazing  upon  this  wonderful  collection 
of  beautiful  horses,  you  would  have  said  that  surely  the 
world  had  nothing  left  to  be  desired  in  the  shape  of  perfect 
steeds.  But  we  shall  see ! 

For  the  morning  which  ushered  in  the  great  Festival  of 
Roses  dawned  at  last,  and  at  a  very  early  hour  the  whole 
city  was  astir.  Now  the  beautiful  golden  throne,  from 
which  Zal  and  Rustem  were  to  inspect  the  horses,  had 
been  placed  just  outside  the  western  gate,  and  it  was  tow 
ard  this  Mecca  that  everybody  hastened.  Here  also  the 
ladies  of  Zaboulistan  were  seated  in  the  covered  pavilion 
on  the  top  of  the  wall,  from  which,  without  being  seen,  they 
could  look  down  upon  the  passing  show.  And  though  still 
early,  every  available  point  of  view  was  already  crowded 
with  a  picturesque  crowd  of  onlookers  who  discussed 
eagerly  the  possible  choice  about  to  be  made  by  Rustem. 


RUSTEM  THE  YOUNG  WARRIOR         97 

And  finally,  all  being  now  ready,  at  a  given  signal  the 
horses,  which  had  already  been  brought  together  at  a  con- 
venient spot,  were  led,  one  by  one,  through  the  long  pas- 
sage of  armed  men,  directly  before  Rustem,  the  son  of 
Zal.  And  the  first  to  pass  were  those  of  the  Zaboulistan 
herds,  strong,  beautiful  horses,  many  of  them  bred  and 
reared  with  the  one  thought  of  their  being  chosen  as  the 
Prince's  steed  of  battle. 

"O  Mighty  One,  behold  this  beauty!"  cried  the  fore- 
most keeper  enthusiastically  unto  Rustem.  "Truly,  never 
hast  thou  seen  his  like.  Why,  so  swift  is  he  that  the  wind 
is  outstripped  and  put  to  shame  in  a  contest  with  him,  and 
yet  he  is  so  gentle  that  he  will  eat  sugar  from  thy  hand!" 

Smiling  at  the  keeper's  enthusiasm,  Rustem  stepped 
forward,  replying  unto  him: 

"A  beauty  he  is  truly,  but  Rustem  must  have  strength 
as  well  as  swiftness  in  his  steed." 

Now,  thus  speaking,  the  Prince  placed  his  hand  upon  the 
horse  to  see  if  it  could  stand  that  test.  But  the  animal 
shuddered  beneath  his  grasp  and  sank  upon  its  haunches 
from  the  strength  of  the  pressure,  so  that,  crestfallen,  his 
master  was  forced  to  lead  him  away. 

And  alas!  so  fared  it  with  horse  after  horse  brought  for- 
ward, with  those  from  the  home  pastures  as  well  as  those 
from  the  steppes,  the  mountain  valleys,  and  the  plains  of 
the  Oxus.  Verily,  not  one  of  them  could  stand  the  mighty 
weight  of  Rustem' s  hand. 

Then  came  the  long-bearded,  venerable  old  sheik  from 
the  Euphrates,  and  he  led  forward  the  largest  of  his  mag- 
nificent Arabs.  And  behold,  so  splendid  was  this  courser 
that  cries  of  admiration  from  all  the  spectators  greeted 
his  appearance,  for  seldom,  even  in  that  land  of  beautiful 


PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 


horses,  had  an  animal  been  seen  which  was  in  every  way 
so  near  perfection.  Sure  of  success,  therefore,  the  old 
sheik,  smiling  with  satisfied  pride,  said  unto  Rustem: 

"  O  Seeker  after  Perfection,  verily  I  perceive  that  naught 
but  a  blameless  steed  will  satisfy  thee!  Well,  behold!  here 
are  beauty,  and  strength,  and  swiftness,  and  intelligence, 
combined  with  gentleness  and  affection.  Step  up,  My 
Beauty,  and  greet  thy  future  master!" 

Now,  at  this,  the  magnificent  creature  stepped  proudly 
forward,  tossing  his  head  and  coquetting  as  if  perfectly 
conscious  of  the  admiration  he  was  exciting.  But  alas!  so 
high-spirited  and  mettlesome  was  he,  that  when  Rustem 
quietly  subjected  him  unto  the  same  test  that  the  others  had 
undergone,  he  quailed  and  trembled,  not  so  much  because 
he  could  not  bear  the  weight,  as  that  it  fretted  his  proud 
spirit  to  feel  the  weight  of  such  an  iron  hand.  So  he  also 
was  led  away. 

Then,  last  of  all,  the  traders  from  Kabul  brought  for- 
ward a  herd  of  ten  which  they  had  carefully  selected  for 
their  great  strength,  and  which  were  the  flower  of  all  those 
bred  in  the  Afghan  pastures.  But  not  one  of  all  the  ten 
could  stand  the  test  of  Rustem's  hand. 

Alas!  at  this  last  failure,  disappointment  filled  the  heart 
of  Rustem,  for  he  knew  not  what  he  should  do  for  a  steed 
of  battle.  But  letting  his  eye  rove  over  the  plain  in  one 
last  grand  muster,  behold!  he  suddenly  spied  beyond  the 
tents  of  the  Kabul  traders  a  mare  and  her  foal  feeding 
quietly  upon  the  hillside.  Now  the  mare  was  gray,  and 
though  her  height  was  not  remarkable,  she  appeared  as 
strong  as  a  lioness.  But  it  was  the  colt  that  held  Rustem's 
eye,  and  little  wonder,  for  its  color  was  that  of  rose  leaves 
scattered  upon  a  saffron  ground.  And  not  only  that,  but  it 


RUSTEM  THE  YOUNG  WARRIOR          99 

also  appeared  as  strong  as  an  elephant,  as  tall  as  a  camel, 
and  as  vigorous  as  a  lion,  while  its  eyes  fairly  beamed  with 
the  fire  of  intelligence.  Also,  its  tail  was  long  and  arched 
and  its  hoofs  were  like  unto  steel,  seeing  which,  lo,  hope 
blazed  up  once  more  in  the  heart  of  Rustem.  Turning 
quickly  unto  the  traders  therefore,  he  said: 

"O  Sons  of  Kabul,  unto  whom  belongeth  the  gray  mare 
that  feeds  beyond  your  tents?  And  whose  is  the  colt  that 
follows  after  her  ?  Verily,  I  see  no  mark  upon  its  flanks!" 

Then  the  herdsmen,  shaking  their  heads  gravely,  replied 
unto  Rustem: 

"Most  Gracious  Prince,  now  thou  asketh  that  which 
we  cannot  answer.  Only  this  can  we  say,  that  all  the  way 
from  the  Afghan  valleys  they  have  followed  us,  and  we 
have  been  unable  either  to  drive  them  back  or  to  capture 
them.  We  have  heard  it  said,  however,  that  the  name  of 
the  colt  is  Rakush,  or  Lightning,  because  that  he  is  as 
light  as  water  and  as  swift  as  fire;  but  we  do  not  know  his 
master.  Men  say,  also,  that  it  is  now  three  years  since  the 
colt  hath  been  ready  for  the  saddle,  and  many  nobles  have 
desired  to  possess  him,  but  in  vain!  For  as  soon  as  the 
mother  seeth  a  man's  lasso,  she  runneth  up  like  a  lioness  to 
defend  her  young,  and  will  suffer  no  one  to  touch  him. 
Now  what  mystery  is  hidden  under  all  this  we  know 
not,  but  of  a  truth  it  is  safest  to  leave  them  alone,  for  so 
savage  is  the  gray  mare,  she  will  tear  the  heart  out  of  a 
lion  and  the  skin  off  a  leopard's  back  in  defence  of  her 
foal." 

Now  no  sooner  had  Rustem  heard  all  this  than  he 
snatched  a  lariat  from  the  hand  of  the  nearest  herdsman, 
ran  quickly  forward,  and  threw  the  noose,  without  warn- 
ing, over  the  head  of  the  startled  colt.  Then  followed 


100  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

a  furious  battle,  not  so  much  with  the  colt  as  with  its  fren- 
zied mother,  who  ran  at  Rustem  like  a  wild  elephant,  and 
would  have  seized  his  head  in  her  teeth.  But  lo!  the  son 
of  Zal  roared  at  her  with  so  terrible  a  voice  that  the  gray 
mare  stood  still  in  astonishment.  Quickly  then,  Rustem, 
seeing  his  opportunity,  dealt  her  a  mighty  blow  upon 
the  head  with  his  fist,  so  that  she  rolled  over  and  over 
in  the  dust.  And  not  in  vain  was  this  form  of  per- 
suasion, for  when  she  got  to  her  feet  the  gray  mare  had 
no  desire  to  renew  the  attack,  but  quickly  hid  herself  in 
the  herd. 

So  the  mare  having  retired  crestfallen  from  the  field, 
Rustem  tightened  the  knot  of  the  lasso,  and  then  pressed 
one  of  his  hands  with  all  his  might  upon  the  colt's  back. 
But  Rakush  did  not  bend  under  it;  indeed,  one  would 
have  said  that  he  was  unconscious  of  it.  Then  Rustem 
gave  a  great  cry  of  joy,  and  caressing  the  beautiful  creature 
fondly,  he  cried: 

"O  Rakush !•  Rakush!  verily  thou  shalt  be  my  throne, 
and  seated  upon  thee,  I  shall  accomplish  great  deeds,  and 
now  away,  My  Beauty,  away!" 

So  speaking,  with  a  great  bound  the  young  Prince 
leaped  upon  the  back  of  Rakush,  and  the  rose-colored 
steed  bore  him  over  the  plains  with  the  speed  of  the  wind. 
But  when  thoroughly  tired  he  turned  at  a  word  from  his 
master,  and  came  quietly  back  unto  the  city  gates,  where 
the  vast  crowd  cheered  mightily  both  Rustem  and  Rakush. 

Then  Zal,  well  pleased  that  at  last  the  desire  of  his  son 
was  accomplished,  said  unto  the  men  from  Kabul: 

"Good  Herdsmen,  what  wish  ye  in  exchange  for  this 
dragon  ?  Be  not  afraid  to  speak,  for  I  see  that  he  pleaseth 
Rustem  mightily." 


RUSTEM  THE  YOUNG  WARRIOR        101 

But  the  herdsmen,  turning  quickly  unto  Rustem,  re- 
plied gravely: 

"If  thou  art  Rustem,  mount  him  and  retrieve  the  sor- 
rows of  Iran,  for  his  price  is  the  land  of  Persia,  and, 
seated  upon  his  back,  no  enemy  can  stand  before  thee." 

Now  thus  it  was  that  Rustem  won  his  great  war-horse, 
Rakush,  and  none  too  soon,  for  it  was  not  long  before  Iran 
had  need  of  a  champion,  being  plunged  in  war  and  blood- 
shed, as  you  shall  hear. 

And  first  you  must  know  that  after  having  flourished  for 
twice  sixty  years,  the  good  King  Minuchir  made  ready  to 
pass  from  the  world.  Now  being  informed  by  the  astrol- 
ogers that  his  end  was  near,  the  Great  Shah  called  before 
him  Nuder,  the  young  Prince,  and  gave  unto  him  wise 
counsel.  Then  when  he  had  so  spoken,  he  closed  his 
eyes  and  sighed,  and  was  gathered  unto  the  tomb  of  his 
fathers.  And  lo!  all  the  world  mourned  for  the  great 
Shah  gone. 

And  well  might  Persia  mourn,  for  Nuder,  alas,  was  not 
great  and  noble  like  unto  his  father,  whose  wise  counsel 
he  soon  forgot.  And  so  it  came  to  pass  that  presently  so 
great  became  his  injustice  and  tyranny  that  finally  the 
nobles  of  the  land  came  unto  Saum  the  great  Pehliva,  and 
prayed  that  he  would  wrest  from  Nuder  the  crown  and 
place  it  upon  his  own  head.  But  Saum,  being  grieved  at 
these  words,  replied  unto  them: 

"Not  so,  O  Men  of  Might,  for  it  beseemeth  me  not  in 
my  old  age  to  be  untrue  to  the  sovereign  unto  whom  I 
have  sworn  loyalty — I  and  my  house." 

Then  the  nobles  insisted,  pointing  out  that  Nuder  was 
unworthy  the  throne.  But  the  aged  Saum  who  for  so  long 
a  period  had  faithfully  served  his  country  was  not  at  last 


102  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

to  prove  untrue  to  his  duty.  Sternly  refusing  the  prof- 
fered honor,  therefore,  he  advised  the  nobles  to  return  unto 
their  allegiance,  promising  to  go  himself  before  the  Shah 
in  the  interests  of  the  people. 

So  Saum  the  aged  girt  on  his  sword,  and,  taking  with  him 
a  large  retinue,  he  proceeded  unto  the  Court,  where  he  ex- 
horted Nuder  with  prayers  and  tears  to  turn  from  the  paths 
of  evil,  that  he  might  earn  for  himself  a  glorious  immortality 
like  unto  Feridoun  and  Minuchir,  his  glorious  predeces- 
sors. Now  so  earnest  and  eloquent  was  Saum  that  Nuder 
listened  unto  his  voice,  and  joy  was  abroad  once  more  in 
the  land. 

But  alas!  The  tidings  of  the  death  of  the  mighty  Min- 
uchir, and  of  the  unpopularity  and  weakness  of  the  new 
Shah,  spread  quickly,  finally  reaching  even  unto  Turan. 
And  there  Poshang,  who  was  of  the  race  of  Tur,  heard  the 
news  with  gladness,  for  he  decided  that  now  was  the  time 
ripe  to  take  vengeance  for  the  blood  of  his  sire.  Therefore 
he  called  about  him  his  warriors,  and  his  son  Afrasiab  who 
was  next  unto  himself  in  the  kingdom,  and  held  counsel 
over  the  matter. 

Now  it  is  said  of  young  Afrasiab  the  Prince  that  he  was 
as  strong  as  a  lion  or  an  elephant,  and  that  his  shadow  ex- 
tended for  miles;  that  his  tongue  was  like  a  bright  sword, 
his  heart  as  bounteous  as  the  ocean,  and  his  hands  like  the 
clouds  when  rain  falleth  to  gladden  the  thirsty  earth. 
Therefore  his  father  found  it  not  difficult  to  imbue  his 
chivalrous  and  youthful  spirit  with  the  sentiments  he  him- 
self cherished  as,  calling  him  into  his  presence,  he  said 
unto  him: 

"O  my  son,  generous  and  brave,  even  as  the  great 
Minuchir  in  days  gone  by  took  vengeance  for  the  blood  of 


RUSTEM  THE  YOUNG  WARRIOR        103 

his  sire,  so  ought  thou  now  to  take  vengeance  for  thine; 
for  I  say  unto  thee  that  the  grandson  who  refuseth  to  do 
this  act  of  justice  is  unworthy  a  noble  ancestry." 

So,  inspired  by  the  thought  of  avenging  old  wrongs,  and 
lured  on  by  ambition  as  well,  in  the  council  which  fol- 
lowed, Afrasiab  gave  his  voice  for  war.  But  Aghriras,  his 
younger  brother,  advised  peace,  for  he  said : 

"Though  Persia  can  no  longer  boast  the  prowess  of 
Minuchir,  O  my  father,  still  be  not  precipitate.  For  be- 
hold! the  great  warriors  Saum,  and  Zal,  and  Karun  yet 
live,  and  we  have  only  to  remember  the  result  of  the  war 
in  which  Selim  and  Tur  were  involved  to  be  convinced 
that  it  would  be  better  not  to  begin  the  contest  at  all  than 
to  bring  ruin  and  desolation  upon  our  own  country.  Think 
well,  therefore,  before  undertaking  so  mighty  an  enterprise." 

To  this  prudent  counsel,  however,  Poshang  turned  a  deaf 
ear,  for  he  coveted  the  rich  provinces  of  Persia,  even  as 
Selim  and  Tur  before  him,  and  he  thought  the  time  par- 
ticularly fit  and  inviting  to  carry  out  his  ambitious  schemes. 
So  when  the  verdure  of  spring  covered  the  plains  the 
Tartar  army  set  forth. 

Now  this  event  could  not  have  happened  in  a  more  un- 
lucky hour  for  Persia,  since  the  great  Pehliva  Saum  had  just 
been  gathered  unto  the  dust;  and  Zal,  his  white-haired 
son,  tarried  in  his  house  to  build  him  a  tomb;  while  Rus- 
tem  was  ill  with  the  small-pox.  Nevertheless,  the  grand- 
son of  Feridoun,  when  he  learned  of  the  coming  of  the 
Tartar  horde,  raised  as  great  an  army  as  he  could,  and 
prepared  to  meet  the  foes  of  his  land,  which  covered  the 
ground  like  ants  and  locusts. 

And  presently  it  came  to  pass  that  the  two  great  armies 
had  approached  within  two  leagues  of  each  other,  where- 


104  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

upon,  a  Tartar  champion,  Barman,  by  name,  rode  forth 
challenging  the  Persians  to  single  combat;  and  as  it  hap- 
pened, there  was  no  one  to  answer  the  call  but  the  aged 
Kobad,  the  oldest  warrior  in  the  army.  Now  Karun  and 
Kobad  were  brothers,  being  both  sons  of  Kavah,  and  both 
leaders  in  the  Persian  army.  Seeing  how  unequal  would 
be  the  conflict,  therefore,  Karun  tried  to  dissuade  his 
brother  from  the  undertaking,  saying  unto  him: 

"  O  my  brother,  go  not  forth  to  meet  this  giant,  for  should 
thy  hoary  locks  be  stained  with  blood,  thy  legions  would 
be  overwhelmed  with  grief  and,  in  despair,  decline  the  com- 
ing battle!" 

But  brave  old  Kobad  resisted  all  the  arguments  and  en- 
treaties of  Karun,  replying  unto  him: 

"This  body,  this  frail  tenement,  O  my  brother,  be- 
longeth  unto  death.  No  living  man  hath  ever  yet  gone  up 
to  heaven,  for  all  are  doomed  to  die — some  by  the  sword, 
the  dagger,  or  the  spear,  and  some  devoured  by  roaring 
beasts  of  prey;  some  peacefully  upon  their  beds,  and  oth- 
ers snatched  suddenly  from  life,  endure  the  lot  ordained 
by  the  Creator.  And  if  I  perish  now,  fighting  against  my 
country's  foe,  doth  not  my  brother  live,  my  noble  brother, 
to  bury  me  beneath  a  warrior's  tomb,  and  bless  my  mem- 
ory? And  what  can  a  soldier  brave  ask  more?" 

Now,  speaking  thus,  brave  Kobad  rushed  forward  to  the 
field,  and  the  two  champions  met  in  desperate  conflict, 
the  fearful  struggle  lasting  all  day  long.  But  at  evening, 
as  the  combat  was  about  to  end  for  the  day,  behold,  Bar- 
man threw  a  stone  at  his  antagonist  with  such  force  that 
Kobad,  in  receiving  the  blow,  fell  lifeless  from  his  horse. 

And  then  was  Karun  furious!  Bringing  forward  his 
whole  army,  therefore,  he  at  once  advanced  in  fearful 


RUSTEM  THE  YOUNG  WARRIOR        105 

charge  to  avenge  right  speedily  the  death  of  his  brother. 
Then  seeing  this,  Afrasiab  himself  advanced,  and  an  en- 
counter ensued  which  was  fierce  and  terrible. 

"Loud  neighed  the  steeds,  and  their  resounding  hoofs, 
Shook  the  deep  caverns  of  the  earth;  the  dust 
Rose  up  in  clouds  and  hid  the  azure  heavens — 
Bright  beamed  the  swords,  and  in  that  carnage  wide, 
Blood  flowed  like  water.    Night  alone  divided 
The  hostile  armies." 

But  the  next  morning  the  battle  was  renewed,  and  from 
dawn  to  set  of  sun  the  terrible  conflict  raged.  Now  the 
carnage  was  so  great  that  blood  flowed  like  water,  and 
heads  fell  from  their  trunks  like  unto  autumn  leaves, 
kissed  by  the  soft  south  winds;  and  the  clamor  and  confu- 
sion were  so  mighty  that  earth  and  sky  seemed  blended  in 
one. 

However,  of  all  the  events  of  that  dreadful  day  none  was 
more  terrible  than  when  King  Nuder  himself  charged 
from  out  his  army  to  meet  the  valiant  Afrasiab.  Now  not 
only  did  the  two  combatants  hurl  javelins  at  each  other, 
and  fight  until  their  swords  were  hacked  like  unto  saws, 
and  their  spears  were  shivered,  but  they  even  closed  with 
each  other  like  two  serpents,  so  deadly  was  the  struggle. 
But  finally,  as  night  was  coming  on,  Afrasiab  began  to  pre- 
vail, and  the  King  had  hard  work  to  escape  with  his  life. 

So  when  the  javelins  cast  long  shadows  upon  the  plain 
at  even-tide,  the  Tartar  host  had  won  the  day,  and  many 
a  famous  Persian  chief  lay  dead  upon  the  battle-field. 
Howbeit,  King  Nuder  and  Karun  escaped,  securing  them- 
selves by  falling  back  unto  the  White  Fort. 

But,  that  same  night,  Afrasiab  despatched  one  of  his 
noted  chiefs  with  a  body  of  horsemen  unto  Iran  for  the 


106  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

purpose  of  intercepting  and  capturing  the  shubistan  of 
Nuder;  and  Karun,  hearing  of  this  important  move,  was 
all  on  fire  to  pursue  the  enemy  and  frustrate  their  object, 
wishing  not  to  see  the  helpless  women  and  children  of  the 
King's  household  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  So,  sup- 
ported by  a  strong  volunteer  force,  he  set  off  at  midnight, 
and  as  fate  would  have  it,  it  happened  that  at  dawn  he  fell 
in  with  a  detachment  of  the  enemy  under  Barman,  who 
was  also  pushing  forward  into  Persia. 

So,  considering  this  unusually  fortunate,  straightway 
Karun,  in  revenge  for  his  brother  Kobad,  sought  out  the 
champion  and  dared  him  to  single  combat.  And  so  great 
was  his  fury  that,  throwing  his  javelin  with  the  might  of  a 
Deev,  he  hurled  Barman  violently  from  his  horse,  so  that 
he  lay  upon  the  ground  stunned.  Then  Karun,  quickly  dis- 
mounting, severed  the  head  of  the  giant,  and  hung  it  at  his 
saddle-bow.  And  this  being  accomplished,  he  attacked 
and  defeated  the  whole  Tartar  company,  being  in  full 
possession  of  the  field  when  joined  by  King  Nuder. 

But  now  Afrasiab  came  up,  and  so  again  was  the  battle 
renewed.  Now  from  morning  until  evening  the  conflict 
raged  so  fiercely  that  the  ground  could  not  be  seen  for  the 
dead,  and  in  the  end  the  Persians  suffered  a  great  defeat. 
But,  most  unfortunate  of  all,  King  Nuder  again  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  Tartar  chief,  and  long  they  fought,  but 
finally  Afrasiab  succeeded  in  grasping  his  royal  opponent 
by  the  girdle  and,  furious,  dragged  him  from  his  foaming 
horse,  and  carried  him  off  a  prisoner. 

But  worse  was  to  come,  for  when  Afrasiab  learned  of 
Karun's  valorous  deed,  and  that  as  a  consequence,  not 
only  Barman,  but  many  of  the  bravest  of  his  warriors  were 
slain,  in  a  fit  of  rage,  he  slew  his  royal  prisoner,  and  also 


RUSTEM  THE  YOUNG  WARRIOR        107 

many  of  the  thousand  brave  warriors  who  fell  into  his 
hands  with  Nuder;  and  Persia  was  without  a  King. 

And  presently  it  came  to  pass  that  Afrasiab  himself  sat 
down  upon  the  throne  of  light,  proclaiming  himself  lord  of 
Iran.  And  not  only  this,  but  he  required  all  the  people  to 
do  homage  unto  him,  and  to  pour  gifts  before  his  face. 
But  the  people  would  not  listen  unto  his  voice,  and  in  their 
distress  they  sent  messengers  unto  Seistan,  asking  counsel 
of  the  great  Pehliva.  Then  Zal,  hearing  of  the  sad  plight  of 
Iran,  cast  aside  his  sorrow  for  Saum,  his  father,  and  replied 
thus  unto  the  messengers: 

"O  Men  of  Iran,  verily  all  my  days  have  I  feared  no 
enemy  save  only  old  age,  and  now  it  is  come  upon  me;  for 
my  back  is  bowed,  and  I  can  no  longer  wield  the  sword  as 
in  former  years,  but,  thanks  unto  Ormuzd,  the  old  stump 
hath  put  forth  a  noble  shoot,  and,  therefore,  my  son  Rus- 
tem  will  do  all  that  can  be  done  to  succor  Iran  from  her 
foes,  for  he  is  strong  and  courageous,  and  is  now  ready  and 
longing  for  battle.  Wherefore,  be  of  good  cheer!" 

Then  Zal,  dismissing  the  messengers,  called  before  him 
his  son  and  said  unto  him: 

"  O  Hero  of  the  House  of  Saum,  verily  thou  art  strong  as 
an  elephant,  and  thy  courage  is  as  that  of  the  lion  who  de- 
fendeth  her  young.  Nevertheless,  O  my  son,  thy  lips  still 
smell  of  milk,  and  thy  heart  should  be  going  out  after 
pleasure  instead  of  battle,  for  thou  art  yet  but  a  youth. 
But  alas!  the  times  are  perilous,  and  Iran  looketh  unto 
thee  for  succor;  so  the  time  is  come  when  I  must  send  thee 
forth  to  cope  with  heroes,  both  thou  and  Rakush  thy  steed ! 
And,  armed  with  thy  grandsire's  famous  club  for  thy  mace, 
I  mistake  me  if  thou  spreadest  not  consternation  among 
the  Tartar  host.  What  sayeth  the  proud  son  of  Zal?" 


108  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Now  at  this  Rustem  smiled.  Then  drawing  near  unto 
his  father  he  said: 

"O  my  noble  father,  with  my  grandsire's  mighty  club 
I  slew  the  King's  white  elephant.  Hast  thou  forgotten 
that?  And  also  how  I  took  the  enchanted  fortress? 
Verily,  I  know  that  I  am  young,  but  it  would  be  a  disgrace 
if  I  were  to  be  afraid  of  Afrasiab  and  his  warriors,  and 
verily,  I  am  not  afraid.  For,  seated  upon  Rakush,  and 
armed  with  my  grandsire's  mace  and  helmet,  my  heart 
telleth  me  that  I  shall  not  disgrace  the  house  of  Saum  the 
Hero.  Give  me  thy  blessing,  therefore,  and  send  me  forth. 
Then  shall  Persia  be  delivered  from  her  foes." 

Now  Zal's  heart  laughed  within  him  for  very  gladness 
when  he  heard  these  words  of  manhood  from  his  son,  and 
immediately  preparations  were  made  to  take  the  field, 
a  large  army  being  raised  and  equipped  by  Rustem. 

But,  though  Afrasiab  heard  of  the  preparations  being 
made  by  Zal  and  Rustem  to  come  out  against  him,  the 
news  disturbed  him  not  at  all,  for  he  said : 

"  Verily,  why  should  we  fear  ?  The  son  is  but  a  boy,  and 
the  father  is  old;  therefore,  it  will  be  simply  play  to  van- 
quish these  heroes,  so  let  us  feast  and  be  merry!" 

So  they  feasted,  hearing  not  as  they  made  merry  over 
their  wine  the  steady  tramp,  tramp  of  the  approaching 
army,  which  daily  drew  nearer,  and  of  whose  might  they 
dreamed  not. 

Now  it  was  the  time  of  roses,  when  Zal  led  forth  his  host 
against  the  offspring  of  Tur,  and  the  meadows  smiled  with 
verdure,  filling  all  the  air  with  fragrance.  At  the  head  of 
the  mighty  multitude  marched  Rustem,  the  flag  of  Kavah 
floating  o'er  him  gloriously.  But  White-haired  Zal  was  not 
at  his  side,  for  he  marched  in  the  midst  of  the  men,  while 


RUSTEM  THE  YOUNG  WARRIOR        109 

Mihrab  and  Gustahem  led  the  two  wings.  Also  there  fol- 
lowed after  Rustem  a  number  like  the  sands  of  the  sea, 
and  the  sounds  of  cymbals  and  drums  made  a  noise  like 
unto  the  great  day  of  judgment.  So  marched  they  until 
they  came  near  unto  the  Tartar  camp.  Then,  assembling 
his  veteran  chiefs,  Zal  said  unto  them: 

"O  my  Brave  Warriors,  valiant  in  fight!  Behold,  we 
have  here  a  great  army;  we  have  also  daring  chiefs  and 
wise  counsellors;  but  we  suffer  a  great  disadvantage  be- 
cause that  we  have  no  King.  But  rejoice  and  be  not  dis- 
mayed, for  a  Mubid  hath  revealed  unto  me  that  at  Mount 
Alborz  there  yet  liveth  one  of  the  royal  race  of  Feridoun, 
unto  whom  belongeth  the  throne;  and  that  he  is  a  youth 
wise  and  brave,  and  a  lover  of  justice  and  truth." 

Having  thus  spoken  unto  the  chiefs,  behold,  Zal  next 
addressed  himself  unto  Rustem,  and  he  said: 

"My  son,  I  pray  thee  depart  at  once  for  Mount  Alborz, 
neither  tarry  by  the  way.  And  when  thou  art  come  unto 
the  mountain,  do  homage  unto  Prince  Kaikobad,  and 
say  unto  him  that  lo!  the  army  is  asking  for  its  King. 
We  shall  expect  thy  return  with  the  Prince  within  four- 
teen days." 

So,  with  great  joy,  Rustem  leaped  upon  the  back  of 
Rakush,  and  rode  off  at  full  speed.  Now  he  had  gone  but 
a  short  distance  when  a  number  of  Tartars  who  had  posted 
themselves  upon  the  road,  seeing  the  young  hero  galloping 
toward  them,  attacked  him.  But  Rustem,  club  in  hand, 
fell  upon  them  with  fury,  striking  many  to  the  ground,  and 
driving  the  rest  before  him,  so  that  they  returned  unto 
Afrasiab  full  of  terror. 

Meanwhile,  Rustem,  tarrying  not,  rode  on  until  he  was 
come  unto  Mount  Alborz,  unto  a  spot  where  he  beheld  a 


110  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

splendid  palace  standing  in  a  beautiful  garden  whence 
came  the  sounds  of  running  waters.  Trees  of  tall 
stature  uprose  therein,  and  under  their  spreading  shade, 
beside  a  gurgling  fountain,  there  was  placed  a  throne  upon 
which  sat  a  youth  of  singular  beauty.  And  circled  round 
about  him  were  nobles,  girt  with  red  sashes  of  might,  and 
they  paid  homage  unto  the  youth. 

Now  beguiled  by  the  charm  of  the  place,  which  was 
really  a  paradise  as  to  perfume  and  beauty,  Rustem  drew 
rein  for  a  moment,  and  when  those  within  the  garden  be- 
held it,  they  came  out  unto  him,  saying  courteously: 

"  O  noble  youth,  thou  appearest  to  have  ridden  fast  and 
far!  Descend  from  off  thy  horse,  therefore,  and  drink  a  cup 
of  wine  with  us,  for  we  would  greet  thee  as  our  guest." 

But  Rustem,  thanking  them,  refused  the  courtesy,  say- 
ing unto  them  in  explanation: 

"Unfortunately,  O  gracious  Pehliva,  my  errand  is  one 
that  demandeth  haste.  For  lo!  the  borders  of  Iran  are 
encircled  by  the  enemy,  and  in  every  house  there  is  mourn- 
ing because  that  the  throne  is  empty  of  a  King.  Where- 
fore, I  may  not  stay  to  taste  of  wine." 

Hearing  this,  the  nobles  no  longer  sought  to  detain 
Rustem,  but  said  graciously  unto  him: 

"Verily,  if  thou  art  on  thy  way  unto  Mount  Alborz, 
brave  youth,  tell  unto  us  thy  mission,  for  we  are  of  those 
who  guard  its  sides." 

Then  Rustem,  satisfied  as  to  their  integrity,  replied  unto 
his  questioners: 

" Behold!  I  seek  upon  Mount  Alborz  a  King  of  the  pure 
royal  race,  a  youth  who  reareth  high  his  head.  His  name 
is  Kaikobad,  and  if  ye  know  aught  of  him,  I  pray  that  ye 
give  me  tidings  as  to  where  I  may  find  him." 


RUSTEM  THE  YOUNG  WARRIOR        111 

Now  at  this  the  youth  upon  the  throne  arose,  and  said 
unto  Rustem: 

"Sayest  thou,  O  Pehliva,  that  thou  seekest  Prince 
Kaikobad  ?  Verily,  he  is  well  known  unto  me,  and  if  thou 
wilt  graciously  enter  this  garden,  and  rejoice  my  soul  with 
thy  presence,  surely  I  will  give  thee  tidings  concerning 
him." 

So  Rustem,  at  this  promise,  quickly  dismounted  from 
off  the  back  of  Rakush,  and  hastened  to  where  the  nobles 
were  congregated  by  the  fountain.  Then  the  youth  who  had 
called  unto  him  took  his  hand  and  led  him  unto  the  steps 
of  the  throne,  and,  pouring  out  wine,  he  drank  to  his  guest, 
giving  also  unto  Rustem.  Then  this  ceremony  being 
ended,  he  said: 

"O  Valiant  One!  Why  seekest  thou  Kaikobad?  At 
whose  desire  art  thou  thus  sent  forth?" 

Then  Rustem  replied: 

"  O  Prince,  I  bring  unto  Kaikobad  good  tidings,  for  the 
nobles  of  Iran  have  chosen  him  to  be  their  King.  And  lo! 
my  aged  father,  Zal,  hath  sent  me  with  all  speed  to  pray 
the  young  King  to  hasten  unto  his  own,  that  he  may  lead 
the  host  against  the  enemies  of  Iran." 

Now  the  youth  listened  attentively  unto  Rustem;  then, 
smiling,  he  said : 

" O  Son  of  the  White-haired  Zal!  Rejoice,  for  thy  quest 
is  ended,  since  thou  beholdest  in  me  Kaikobad  of  the  race 
of  Feridoun." 

Then  Rustem,  bowing  his  head,  kissed  the  ground  before 
the  Prince,  saluting  him  as  Shah.  And  Kaikobad,  calling 
for  a  cup  of  wine,  touched  it  with  his  lips  in  Rustem's  honor. 
Then  Rustem  also  drank,  crying  loyally: 

"May  the  Shah  live  forever!    May  he  bring  destruction 


112  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

unto  the  enemies  of  Iran,  and  reign  gloriously  for  a  thou- 
sand years!" 

And  now  music  rent  the  air,  and  shouts  of  joy  from  the 
nobles,  because  that  the  King  was  come  into  his  own. 
But  when  silence  was  once  more  restored,  the  young  Shah 
opened  his  mouth  and  said: 

"O  Nobles  of  Iran,  hearken  unto  my  dream,  which  is 
now  come  true,  and  you  will  know  why  I  called  upon  you 
this  day  to  stand  in  majesty  about  my  throne.  Behold, 
last  night  in  my  sleep,  suddenly  from  out  the  blue  I  beheld 
two  falcons,  white  of  wing,  flying  toward  me  by  way  of 
Iran;  and  in  their  beaks  they  bore  a  sunny  crown  which 
they  placed  upon  my  head.  Andlo!  here  is  Rustem,  come 
out  unto  me  this  day  like  a  white  bird;  and  his  father,  the 
nursling  of  a  bird,  hath  sent  him,  while  the  sunny  diadem 
is  the  crown  of  Iran." 

Now  all  marvelled  at  the  dream,  and  Rustem  said: 

"  Surely,  O  King,  thou  art  chosen  of  Ormuzd,  and  bless- 
ings will  be  showered  upon  Iran  while  thou  art  seated 
upon  the  throne  of  light !  But  since  there  is  now  need  for 
haste,  I  pray  thee  let  us  tarry  no  longer,  for  the  enemy  is 
at  the  door." 

So  Kaikobad  swung  himself  upon  his  steed  of  war,  and 
in  yet  the  same  hour  they  set  out  with  their  followers,  tow- 
ard Iran.  And  they  rode  day  and  night  without  stopping 
until,  having  left  the  glorious  hills  far  behind  them,  they 
were  come  unto  the  green  plains,  already  clad  in  all  their 
spring  beauty.  Whereupon,  being  come  unto  the  outposts 
of  the  enemy,  Kaloun,  the  great  Tartar  champion,  came 
out  to  attack  them,  and  when  the  King  saw  him  and  his 
ugly-looking  followers,  he  was  for  giving  battle.  But  Rus- 
tem said: 


RUSTEM  THE  YOUNG  WARRIOR        113 

"O  Lord  of  Iran,  truly  it  becometh  not  thy  greatness  to 
honor  such  a  foe.  And,  moreover,  my  horse  and  my  club, 
with  God  on  my  side,  will  be  enough,  I  think,  to  settle  this 
handful  of  the  enemy." 

Now  so  speaking,  and  waiting  not  for  reply,  Rustem 
gave  Rakush  the  rein,  and  made  a  dash  for  the  Tartars;  and 
fearful  was  the  onslaught!  For  coming  up  with  the  ene- 
my, the  hero,  catching  one  trooper  from  his  horse,  struck 
another  with  the  man  as  if  he  were  a  club,  dashing  out  his 
brains.  Then  one  by  one  he  tore  the  riders  from  their  sad- 
dles, dashing  them  to  the  ground  with  such  force  as  to 
break  their  skulls,  and  necks,  and  backs.  And  finally  it 
came  the  turn  of  the  great  champion  also  to  feel  the  wrath 
of  Rustem.  Reaching  out  his  hand,  therefore,  quickly  he 
caught  hold  of  Kaloun's  spear,  tore  it  from  him,  and  with 
it  struck  him  from  his  saddle.  Then  as  he  lay  upon  the 
ground,  Rakush  trampled  upon  him  until  he  was  naught 
but  a  mass  of  clay.  Now  when  the  remaining  Tartars  saw 
their  chief  treated  in  this  fashion,  they  thought  that  a  demon 
had  broken  his  chain,  and  was  riding  about  with  a  club 
and  a  lasso  fastened  unto  his  saddle;  so  being  filled  with 
terror,  they  turned  their  backs  and  fled. 

Then,  having  given  the  enemy  somewhat  to  report  unto 
Afrasiab,  Rustem  rode  back  unto  the  King,  and  they  con- 
tinued their  journey.  And  that  night,  in  the  darkness, 
Rustem  led  the  "Hope  of  Iran"  safely  through  the  enemy's 
line  within  the  tents  of  Zal.  And  after  this,  seven  days  they 
feasted  and  counselled  together,  but  on  the  eighth  day  the 
crown  of  Iran  was  placed  upon  the  head  of  Kaikobad,  who 
mustered  the  army  and  led  it  forth  against  the  Tartar  host. 

And  then,  what  a  conflict !  Fierce  and  terrible  it  raged  for 
days,  and  many  were  the  deeds  of  valor  performed  by  both 


114  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Iranian  and  Turk.  But  the  men  of  Turan  prevailed  not, 
though  Afrasiab  made  one  terrible  onslaught  in  which  so 
great  was  the  clamor  and  confusion  that  it  seemed  as  if 
heaven  and  earth  had  closed  in  deadly  conflict,  the  result 
of  which  would  be  victory  for  the  enemy.  Now  the  spec- 
tacle was  magnificent,  awe-inspiring,  and  terrible.  For, 
what  with  the  clattering  of  hoofs,  the  shrill  roar  of  the 
trumpets,  the  rattle  of  the  brazen  drums,  and  the  vivid 
glitter  of  spear  and  shield,  there  was  produced  a  scene  of 
indescribable  tumult  and  splendor,  while  the  neighing  of 
the  steeds  of  battle,  the  cries  of  dying  men,  and  the  blood 
which  flowed  like  water,  testified  to  the  deadly  work  being 
done  by  the  Tartar  King,  who  beheld  the  crown  of  Iran 
just  within  his  grasp. 

But  the  bravery  of  Afrasiab  upon  that  dreadful  day  was 
as  nothing  beside  that  of  Rustem.  Seemingly  everywhere 
on  the  field  at  the  same  time,  so  terrible  was  the  destruction 
which  he  caused  that,  verily,  you  would  have  said  he  was 
war  incarnate.  Now  his  power  was  that  of  a  hungry  lion 
which  causeth  all  men  to  flee;  neither  could  his  strength  be 
broken,  for  his  shadow  extended  for  miles,  and,  unaided, 
he  performed  deeds  of  prowess  of  which  no  hero  e'er 
dreamed,  so  that  from  this  time  forth  men  named  him 
Tehemten,  which  meaneth  "the  strong-limbed."  But 
behold !  when  the  conflict  had  lasted  for  some  time,  as  the 
battle  ebbed  for  a  moment,  Rustem  said  unto  Zal: 

"  O  my  father,  where  think  you  hideth  Afrasiab  ?  What 
dress  doth  he  wear,  and  what  is  his  standard?  for  verily 
I  see  him  not!  Why  doth  he  not  stand  forth  that  I  may 
meet  him  in  single  combat?" 

Then  Zal,  laying  a  detaining  hand,  upon  his  son,  said 
gravely: 


RUSTEM  THE  YOUNG  WARRIOR        115 

"Listen,  O  my  son,  and  stick  not  thy  hand  in  the  lion's 
jaws!  For  truly  this  young  Tartar,  Afrasiab,  rageth  in  the 
conflict  with  the  fury  of  the  lion  and  the  crocodile;  yea,  he 
fighteth  in  the  saddle  like  a  sharp-fanged  dragon;  and  in 
his  wrath,  as  he  wieldeth  his  bright  scimitar  around  him, 
he  staineth  the  earth  with  blood.  Beware  of  him,  there- 
fore, for  black  is  his  banner,  black  his  coat  of  mail  and  the 
plume  upon  his  helmet,  and  behold,  woe  followeth  ever  in 
his  train." 

Now,  hearing  this,  Rustem  quickly  loosened  his  father's 
detaining  hand,  saying  unto  him  earnestly: 

"Yea,  and  black  is  his  heart  also,  O  my  father,  for  he 
murdered  his  gentle  brother.  Dragon  or  Demon,  there- 
fore, I  fear  him  not,  for  Heaven  is  not  his  friend.  Let  him 
come  forth,  therefore,  and  soon  we  shall  see  unto  whom 
Ormuzd  giveth  the  victory." 

Then  away  galloped  Rustem,  and  as  he  rode  he  shouted 
his  terrible  battle-cry  which  caused  the  enemy  to  flee 
before  him  like  fire  before  the  wind.  Now  noting  the 
havoc  caused  by  the  youth,  Afrasiab,  astonished,  said  unto 
his  chiefs: 

"O  Men  of  Turan,  what  dragon  is  this  who  scoureth 
the  plain,  causing  my  warriors  to  flee  before  him?  Verily, 
his  claws  need  trimming!" 

Whereupon,  the  nobles,  surrounding  Afrasiab,  said 
eagerly: 

"What!  Hast  thou  not  then  heard?  Yonder  roaring 
lion  is  Rustem,  the  mighty  son  of  Zal,  and  verily,  his  power 
is  that  of  a  thousand  Deevs!  Seest  thou  not  the  club  that 
he  wieldeth  with  such  deadly  force  ?  Lo,  it  is  that  of  Deev- 
fighting  Saum,  his  grandsire,  and  the  youth  seeketh  re- 
nown, even  as  that  illustrious  Pehliva.  And  much  we  fear, 


116  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

O  Afrasiab,  that  if  his  power  be  not  speedily  broken  he  will 
carry  all  before  him." 

Now,  having  heard  this  report,  Afrasiab  galloped  straight 
unto  the  front  of  his  army  where,  being  seen  by  Rustem, 
he  was  at  once  challenged  to  single  combat.  With  a  fierce 
cry  of  joy,  then,  the  warriors  closed,  and  long  and  fearful 
was  the  struggle.  At  last,  however,  Rustem  deftly  caught 
Afrasiab  by  the  girdle,  and  dragged  him  from  his  saddle, 
intending  to  carry  him  thus  captive  unto  Kaikobad  as  a 
trophy  of  his  first  day's  fighting.  But,  what  with  the 
weight  of  the  King,  and  Rustem' s  mighty  arm,  the  leather 
of  the  girdle  broke,  and  Afrasiab  fell  headlong  to  the 
ground,  whereupon  he  was  immediately  surrounded  and 
rescued  by  his  warriors,  but  not  before  Rustem  had 
snatched  off  his  crown,  which  together  with  the  broken 
girdle  he  bore  off  in  triumph. 

Meanwhile,  Afrasiab,  having  been  mounted  by  his 
chiefs  upon  a  swift  horse,  succeeded  in  making  his  escape, 
owing  to  the  great  confusion,  and  his  army  was  left  to  shift 
for  itself.  As  a  consequence,  in  the  general  engagement 
which  now  took  place,  it  fared  ill  indeed  with  the  enemy, 
for  the  Persians,  fired  by  the  example  of  Rustem,  performed 
prodigies  of  valor,  many  a  brave  hero  on  this  field  fighting 
his  last  fight  for  Iran. 

But,  among  them  all,  no  one  could  compare  with  Rus- 
tem. On  that  tremendous  day,  with  sword  and  dagger, 
battle-axe  and  noose,  he  cut,  and  tore,  and  broke,  and 
bound  the  brave,  slaying  and  making  captive  with  his  own 
hand  as  many  as  a  whole  army.  It  is  even  said  that  at  one 
fell  swoop  more  than  a  thousand  fell  before  his  life-destroy- 
ing sword,  and  that,  witnessing  this  feat  of  supernatural 
power,  the  Tartar  hordes  fled  in  dismay,  their  black  ban- 


RUSTEM  THE  YOUNG  WARRIOR        117 

ners  trailing  in  the  dust,  and  with  no  sound  of  trumpet  or 
drum  to  indicate  the  course  of  their  flight. 

So,  in  this  sad  plight,  the  conquered  Tartar  legions  pur- 
sued their  noiseless  retreat  unto  their  own  land.  But  the 
Persians,  when  they  beheld  the  enemy  vanish  as  the  mist, 
fell  slowly  back  unto  the  capital,  where  the  victory  was 
celebrated  with  great  pomp  and  splendor,  Kaikobad  re- 
warding the  valor  of  Rustem  by  appointing  him  captain- 
general  of  the  armies  under  the  title  of  the  "Champion  of 
the  World,"  and  also  giving  unto  him  a  golden  crown,  car- 
rying with  it  the  privilege  of  giving  audience  while  seated 
upon  a  golden  throne. 

But  alas  for  Afrasiab!  With  a  heavy  heart  he  returned 
unto  his  father,  in  bitter  humiliation  communicating  unto 
him  the  misfortunes  which  had  overtaken  him.  And  he 
said: 

"  O  my  father,  verily  we  acted  not  wisely  in  provoking 
this  war.  For  lo!  there  hath  arisen  in  Iran,  from  the  race 
of  Saum  the  Pehliva,  a  youth  who  cannot  be  matched  any- 
where, either  in  strength  or  valor  or  prowess — for  hath  he 
not  utterly  subdued  thy  legions  ?  Yet  now  he  is  but  a  mere 
weanling!  I  ask  you,  therefore,  to  consider  what  is  likely 
to  come  to  pass  when  he  reacheth  his  full  vigor? 

"Now  well  thou  knowest,  O  my  father,  that  thy  son  is 
no  weakling,  but  a  hero  desiring  to  possess  the  world,  and 
of  established  valor;  yea,  the  stay  of  thy  army,  and  thy 
refuge  in  danger,  yet  before  this  young  dragon  of  war  his 
power  is  as  nothing,  as  thou  shalt  hear. 

"For  behold!  when  in  the  midst  of  battle  he  beheld  my 
standard,  like  a  crocodile  he  sprang  to  the  fight.  Verily, 
thou  wouldst  have  said  that  his  breath  scorched  up  the 
plain,  so  fiery  was  he!  Then  long  we  fought,  but  suddenly 


118  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

seizing  me  by  the  girdle,  he  caught  me  from  my  saddle  with 
such  mighty  force  that  hadst  thou  seen  him  thou  wouldst 
have  said  he  held  no  more  than  a  fly  in  his  grasp.  Then 
broke  my  golden  girdle,  and  down  I  fell  ingloriously  upon 
the  dusty  ground;  and  this  was  well,  for  quickly  then  was 
I  rescued  by  my  body-guard  and  spirited  away.  But 
knowing  well  my  prowess,  O  my  father,  and  how  my 
nerves  are  strung,  thou  canst  conceive  the  wondrous 
strength,  the  marvellous  power  which  sunk  me  thus  to 
nothing. 

"And  now  I  say  unto  thee,  haste  to  make  peace  with 
Iran,  else  Turan  is  lost,  for  verily  the  hero  liveth  not  who 
can  stand  against  this  mighty  man  of  valor." 

Poshang  listened  unto  this  bitter  tale  with  sorrow  and 
dismay,  astonished,  too,  to  hear  the  fierce  and  valiant 
Afrasiab  speak  so  hopelessly  of  the  undertaking.  Well  he 
knew,  therefore,  that  he  must  sue  for  peace,  and  tears  of 
exceeding  bitterness  fell  from  his  eyes,  as,  calling  unto  him 
a  scribe,  he  dictated  unto  Kaikobad  the  Shah  a  letter,  in 
which  he  said  unto  the  great  King: 

"O  Glorious  Shelter  of  the  Universe,  in  the  name  of 
Ormuzd,  the  great  ruler  of  sun  and  moon  and  earth,  greet- 
ing from  the  meanest  of  thy  subjects,  who  sayeth  unto  thee : 
Wherefore  should  we  seek  the  land  of  our  neighbor,  since 
in  the  end  each  will  receive  in  heritage  a  spot  no  larger 
than  his  body?  Let  the  Jihun,  therefore,  be  the  future 
boundary  between  Turan  and  Iran,  ancUo!  not  one  of  my 
people  shall  pass  over  its  waters;  nay,  not  even  in  their 
dreams!  Then  shall  the  two  nations  live  at  peace,  and  all 
will  be  well  in  the  lands." 

Now  Kaikobad  smiled  at  this  wily  letter;  nevertheless, 
he  replied  unto  Poshang,  saying: 


RUSTEM  THE  YOUNG  WARRIOR,      119 

"O  Tartar  King,  well  thou  knowest  that  Persia  sought 
not  this  war,  but  Afrasiab,  who  thought  to  subdue  a  mas- 
terless  land,  to  satisfy  his  own  ambitions,  thus  following  in 
the  footsteps  of  Tur,  his  grandsire.  For,  even  as  he  rob- 
bed Iran  of  gentle  Irij,  so  Afrasiab  hath  taken  from  it 
Nuder  the  Shah;  and  from  thee,  O  King,  thy  noble  young 
son  whom  he  so  cruelly  stabbed!  Nevertheless,  since 
Kaikobad  loveth  peace  rather  than  war,  he  agreeth  to  thy 
proposals  of  peace;  but  see  to  it  well  that  Afrasiab  crosseth 
not  the  Jihun." 

So  peace  was  made  between  Iran  and  Turan,  and  so 
Rustem  won  his  first  laurels  as  a  warrior. 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS,  OR 
ADVENTURES 

ETEN  unto  the  tale  of  the  seven  adventures  of  Rus- 
tem,  encountered  while  rescuing  a  foolish  Shah  from 
the  consequences  of  his  folly. 

Now  the  foolish  one  was  not  the  glorious  Kaikobad  who 
reigned  beneficently  over  Iran  for  twice  fifty  years,  but  his 
son  Kaikous,  who,  when  his  father  exchanged  the  palace 
for  the  tomb,  seated  himself  upon  the  throne  of  light,  at 
first  exercising  many  of  the  princely  virtues  of  his  illus- 
trious predecessors.  But  alas!  as  his  riches  increased  and 
his  armies  grew  stronger,  he  became  filled  with  self-admi- 
ration and  pride,  indulging  more  and  more  in  the  fascina- 
tions of  the  wine  cup,  until  in  the  midst  of  his  luxurious 
feasting  with  his  warriors  and  chiefs,  he,  like  the  great 
Shah  Jemshid,  beheld  no  one  but  himself  in  the  world. 

Then  it  came  to  pass  that  one  day  as  the  vain  Shah  sat 
in  his  trellised  bower  in  the  garden  of  roses,  drinking  wine, 
boasting,  and  making  merry  with  his  friends,  a  Deev,  dis- 
guised as  a  minstrel  and  playing  sweetly  upon  his  harp, 
presented  himself  before  the  King's  chamberlain,  desiring 
audience.  And  he  said: 

"Thou  beholdest  before  thee,  O  Servant  of  the  King, 
a  singer  of  sweet  songs,  come  unto  thee  from  Mazinderan, 
desiring  to  pay  homage  unto  the  great  King  of  Kings. 
Admit  me,  therefore,  I  pray  thee,  into  the  arbor  of  flowers, 
for  in  my  throat  are  gay  singing-birds  which  will  make 
the  bower  a  paradise  of  joy." 

120 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  121 

So  the  chamberlain,  beguiled  by  the  charm  of  the 
youth,  hastened  at  once  unto  the  King  to  beg  audience  for 
him.  And  he  said: 

"  O  Shelter  of  the  Universe,  at  the  gate  is  a  minstrel  with 
his  harp.  And  lo!  in  his  throat  he  hides  a  flock  of  singing- 
birds  fresh  from  the  gardens  of  paradise.  He  hath  come 
hither  desiring  to  prostrate  himself  before  the  most  illus- 
trious of  all  the  Shahs  of  Iran,  and  he  awaiteth  thy  com- 
mands, being  naught  but  the  dust  at  thy  feet." 

So  the  King,  pleased  with  this  flattery,  and  with  no  sus- 
picion of  guile,  commanded  that  the  musician  be  brought 
before  him.  Then  the  youth,  being  admitted,  and  having 
performed  obeisance,  warbled  forth  unto  the  monarch 
words  of  deep  cunning,  for  his  song  was  of  the  enchanted 
land  of  the  Genii: 

"Now  thus  he  warbled  to  the  King — 
Mazinderan  is  the  bower  of  spring, 
My  native  home;  the  balmy  air 
Diffuses  health  and  fragrance  there; 
So  tempered  is  the  genial  glow, 
Nor  heat  nor  cold  we  ever  know; 
Tulips  and  hyacinths  abound 
On  every  lawn;  and  all  around 
Blooms  like  a  garden  in  its  prime. 
Fostered  by  that  delicious  clime. 
The  bulbul  sits  on  every  spray, 
And  pours  his  soft  melodious  lay; 
Each  rural  spot  its  sweets  discloses, 
Each  streamlet  is  the  dew  of  roses; 
The  damsels,  idols  of  the  heart, 
Sustain  a  most  bewitching  part. 
And  mark  me,  that  untravelled  man 
Who  never  saw  Mazinderan, 
And  all  the  charms  its  bowers  possess, 
Has  never  tasted  happiness!" 


122  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Now  as  the  King's  great  desire  was  to  drain  the  cup  of 
happiness  to  the  dregs,  no  sooner  had  he  heard  the  min- 
strel's lay  of  this  enchanting  land  than  straightway  he 
became  inflamed  with  the  desire  to  possess  it  for  his  own. 
Turning,  therefore,  unto  his  warriors,  he  at  once  declared 
that  the  glory  of  his  reign  should  be  the  conquest  of  this 
wonderful  country.  For,  he  said: 

"Verily  it  behooveth  a  great  Shah  to  be  a  hero  among 
men,  and  the  world  should  be  his  footstool.  Now  in 
wealth,  and  power,  and  splendor,  I,  Kaikous,  surpass  not 
only  the  glorious  Jemshid,  but  all  my  predecessors,  and 
I  say  unto  you  that  my  prowess  shall  also  be  greater,  for 
verily  I  mean  to  be  master  of  Mazinderan  which  hath 
ever  resisted  the  might  of  the  greatest  of  the  Shahs  of  Iran. 
Too  long,  O  my  nobles,  have  we  abandoned  ourselves  to 
feasting,  but  now  I  bid  you  prepare  for  battle,  for  pres- 
ently I  will  lead  you  into  the  enchanted  land  of  the  Genii, 
thus  causing  the  glory  of  Kaikous  to  mount  even  unto  the 
stars." 

Alas!  the  nobles,  when  they  heard  these  words  of  vanity 
and  folly,  grew  pale  with  dread,  for  they  had  no  desire  to 
invade  the  country  of  the  Deevs.  But  knowing  the  temper 
of  the  Shah,  no  one  was  brave  enough  to  utter  protest, 
though  the  hearts  of  all  were  full  of  misgivings  and  their 
mouths  of  sighs.  But  among  themselves,  when  they  could 
speak  openly,  they  said  one  unto  another: 

"What  folly  is  this!  And  what  calamity  will  it  bring 
upon  us,  unless,  by  good  fortune,  the  King  forgetteth  in 
his  cups  this  wild  undertaking!  Why,  even  the  great 
Jemshid,  whom  the  Genii  and  the  Peri  and  the  very 
birds  of  the  air  obeyed,  never  dreamed  of  trying  to  con- 
quer the  Deevs  of  Mazinderan,  before  whom  the  sword 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  123 

hath  no  power  and  wisdom  is  of  no  avail!  And  the  great 
Feridoun,  though  he  was  the  wisest  of  Kings,  and  skilled 
in  all  the  arts  of  magic,  never  cherished  such  an  enterprise! 
Truly,  Kaikous  is  mad!" 

So  they  talked  in  their  anger  and  perplexity;  and  finally 
they  sent  forth  a  wind-footed  dromedary  and  a  messenger 
unto  Zal,  the  Wise  One  of  Iran,  saying  unto  him: 

"  O  Gracious  Pehliva,  once  again  is  Iran  in  danger  and 
hath  sore  need  of  thee.  Therefore,  though  thy  head  be 
covered  with  dust,  tarry  not  to  cleanse  it,  but  come  quickly 
unto  us,  for  verily  the  Evil  One  hath  strewn  mischievous 
seed  in  the  heart  of  the  Shah  which  threatens  a  bitter  har- 
vest, and  we  look  unto  thee  to  speak  wise  words  of  counsel 
unto  him  that  this  calamity  may  be  averted." 

Sore  distressed  by  the  words  of  the  messenger,  Zal 
shook  his  head  sorrowfully,  for  he  had  not  dreamed  that 
this  leaf  on  the  royal  tree  would  so  soon  show  signs  of 
canker.  Nevertheless,  he  spoke  words  of  comfort  unto 
the  messenger,  saying: 

"The  great  Kaikous  is,  I  fear,  puffed  up  with  vanity, 
being  not  yet  tried  by  either  the  cold  or  the  heat  of  the 
world.  And  alas!  I  fear  me,  if  what  thou  sayest  be  true, 
that  the  sun  must  revolve  yet  oft  above  his  head  ere  he 
learneth  the  wisdom  of  the  great;  for  unto  true  wisdom 
alone  is  it  given  to  know  when  to  strike  and  when  to  with- 
hold the  hand.  Verily,  he  is  like  a  child  with  a  sword  who 
thinketh  the  world  and  all  therein  must  tremble,  if  he  but 
upraiseth  it.  He  will  learn  better  with  experience.  I  will 
not  abandon  him,  therefore,  to  his  folly,  but  will  give  him 
the  best  advice  that  I  can.  Then  if  he  be  persuaded  by 
me,  well;  but  if  not,  Rustem  shall  safeguard  the  army  for 
the  sake  of  the  welfare  of  Iran." 


124  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Now  having  thus  spoken,  Zal  quickly  girt  about  him  his 
red  sash  of  might,  took  in  his  hand  his  great  mace  and 
hastened  unto  the  court,  where,  being  received  with  great 
honor  and  kindness,  he  proceeded  to  unburden  his  heart, 
entreating  the  Shah  not  to  give  his  warriors  and  treasure 
unto  the  wind  by  undertaking  the  useless  journey  into 
Mazinderan. 

But  Kaikous,  arrogant  and  self-willed,  only  smiled  at 
the  warnings  of  the  white-haired  old  warrior,  saying 
unto  him: 

"  O  Pillar  of  Iran,  while  I  despise  not  thy  counsel,  yet  thy 
words  shall  not  divert  me  from  my  purpose,  for  in  thy  argu- 
ments, one  thing  thou  forgettest:  that  I,  Kaikous,  am 
bolder  of  heart,  and  my  power  and  wealth  greater  than 
any  of  the  Shahs  of  Old.  Yea,  and  I  ask  you,  who  among 
them  had  such  warriors  as  thyself,  and  Rustem,  thy  glori- 
ous son?  But  verily,  I  shall  not  need  any  of  the  house  of 
Zal  in  this  war,  since  thy  heart  is  not  set  upon  glory.  Thou 
and  Rustem,  therefore,  can  guard  the  kingdom  while  I  go 
forth  to  soul-appalling  conflict,  which  I  fear  not, 

"For  what  are  all  the  Demon-charms, 
That  they  excite  such  dread  alarms? 
What  is  a  Demon-host  to  me, 
Their  magic  spells  and  sorcery? 
One  effort,  and  the  field  is  won; 
Then  why  should  I  the  battle  shun? 
Lo,  when  I  reach  the  Demon  fort, 
Their  several  heads  shall  be  my  sport! " 

Thus  spake  the  King  in  his  pride  and  vanity,  and  Zal, 
seeing  that  words  were  useless,  bowed  his  head  low  in  the 
dust  before  the  monarch,  saying  unto  him : 

"May  the  great  Shah  never  have  cause  to  recollect  the 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  125 

warning  voice  of  his  servant  with  repentance  or  sorrow! 
May  his  glory  shine  on  undimmed  forever!" 

Now  when  he  had  so  spoken,  Zal  departed,  and  all  the 
people  mourned  for  they  saw  that  Kaikous  was  wholly 
given  over  unto  folly,  and  their  hearts  misgave  them. 

But  not  so  was  it  with  the  King,  for  ere  the  week  had  run 
its  course,  the  great  army  of  Iran  was  set  in  motion,  while 
at  its  head  rode  the  vainglorious  Kaikous,  confident,  self- 
satisfied,  merry,  his  magnificent  retinue  of  richly  capari- 
soned horses  and  camels  making  the  earth  tremble  beneath 
their  tread.  So  they  marched,  each  night  pitching  their 
tents  and  passing  the  hours  in  revel,  until  at  last  they  were 
come  near  unto  the  land  of  enchantment.  Then  Kaikous, 
calling  before  him  Gew,  one  of  the  bravest  of  his  warriors, 
said  unto  him: 

"O  Valiant  One,  choose,  I  pray  thee,  two  thousand  of 
the  bravest  men,  and  the  boldest  wielders  of  the  battle-axe, 
that  ye  may  break  down  the  gates  of  Mazinderan.  In  thy 
progress,  burn  and  destroy  everything  of  value,  and  when 
thou  hast  taken  the  city,  spare  no  dweller  of  the  place, 
neither  man,  nor  woman,  nor  child,  for  all  are  Deevs." 

So  Gew  advanced,  and  when  he  was  come  unto  the  city, 
he  found  it  indeed  arrayed  in  all  the  splendor  of  Paradise, 
even  as  the  minstrel  had  sung;  for  beauty,  and  verdure, 
and  fragrance  filled  all  the  senses  with  delight,  while  gold, 
and  jewels,  and  treasure  of  priceless  value  glittered  and 
gleamed,  and  massed  itself  everywhere.  And  in  all  the 
streets,  too,  were  beautiful  maidens,  richly  adorned,  with 
faces  as  bright  as  the  moon,  and  cheeks  tinted  with  the  hue 
of  the  pomegranate  flower  by  the  beautiful  Houri  of  Para- 
dise. But  Gew,  knowing  that  all  this  was  the  work  of  en- 
chantment, was  not  in  the  least  beguiled.  So  soon  clubs 


126  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

rained  down  upon  the  people  like  hail,  and  the  city  that 
resembled  a  garden  was  changed  into  a  desert,  and  all  the 
dwellers  therein  perished  at  the  hands  of  the  enemy;  neither 
was  mercy  shown  unto  any. 

Meanwhile,  as  this  terrible  work  of  slaughter  and  destruc- 
tion was  being  performed  by  his  brave  warriors,  the  valiant 
Kaikous,  at  a  safe  distance,  was  encamped  in  splendid 
state  upon  the  plain,  indulging  in  revelry  and  the  wildest 
dreams  of  a  glorious  victory.  When  the  news  of  the  de- 
struction of  the  city  and  of  the  great  treasure  hidden  within 
its  palaces  was  brought  unto  him,  therefore,  wild  with 
elation,  he  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  holding  his  wine  cup 
high,  cried  exultantly: 

"Hail  to  the  glorious  Kaikous,  who  hath  overcome  even 
the  Deevs  of  Mazinderan!  Aye,  and  blessings  upon  the 
sweet  singer  who  warbled  unto  him  of  this  glorious  land  of 
treasure!  May  his  life's  tree  put  forth  many  green  leaves; 
may  it  blossom  in  the  garden  of  Paradise!" 

Thus  spake  Kaikous;  and  his  warriors,  too,  rejoiced  at 
the  thought  of  the  limitless  treasure  soon  to  be  theirs.  So 
on  the  following  day  the  whole  army  pressed  forward  to 
join  Gew  and  his  warriors  in  Mazinderan,  and  for  seven 
days  they  ceased  not  from  plundering,  neither  was  there 
an  end  to  the  gold  and  jewels  which  they  found.  And  in 
their  greed  they  sorrowed  not  for  the  beauty  laid  waste, 
or  the  woe  which  they  had  caused,  but,  like  madmen,  they 
spent  their  days  in  plundering  and  their  nights  in  revelry. 

But  retribution  was  at  hand,  for  now  the  news  of  the 
havoc  being  wrought  by  the  Persians  pierced  even  unto 
the  ears  of  the  distant  King  of  Mazinderan,  who  at  once 
despatched  a  messenger  unto  the  Great  White  Deev,  the 
most  powerful  and  dreadful  of  all  the  master  magicians  of 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  127 

the  East,  entreating  him  to  come  at  once  unto  the  rescue, 
lest  the  whole  land  perish  under  the  feet  of  Iran.  Then  the 
dreadful  White  Deev  uprose  in  his  wrath  until  he  appeared 
like  unto  a  snow-capped  mountain  in  his  fury,  roaring  like 
the  River  Nile,  until  all  the  earth  trembled,  and  he  said: 

"Thinks  this  puny,  childish  Shah  to  pit  himself  against 
the  master  magicians  of  the  East,  that  he  thus  invadeth 
our  land?  Verily,  the  imbecile  shall  pay  dearly  for  his 
folly!" 

So  it  came  to  pass  that  on  this  same  day,  when  the  night 
was  fallen,  a  wonderful  cloud,  heavy  and  dark,  spread  itself 
over  Kaikous  and  his  army,  wrapping  them  in  a  tent  of 
blackness.  Then  from  out  the  pitch-black  sky  the  wrath- 
ful Deev  caused  it  to  rain  stones  and  javelins,  causing  a 
terror  and  confusion  like  unto  the  great  day  of  judgment. 
Nor  could  the  men  of  Iran  protect  themselves  against  this 
strange  attack,  since  all  was  the  work  of  magic.  So  the 
dead  piled  up,  and  the  cries  of  the  wounded  swelled  into 
a  horrible  dirge,  while  the  horror  of  it  all  drove  many  to 
madness.  And  not  only  this,  for  behold,  when  the  day 
dawned  after  this  night  of  horror,  lo!  the  King,  and  all 
those  who  had  not  fled,  or  been  killed  by  the  hailstones 
and  javelins,  were  stone-blind. 

Then  followed  for  the  sightless  monarch  and  his  follow- 
ers seven  terrible  days  of  anguish  as,  moaning  and  lament- 
ing, they  sat  helpess  among  the  ruins  of  Mazinderan. 
Yea,  the  great  Kaikous  wept  bitterly  in  his  terror,  and  the 
army  with  him,  until  so  awful  became  the  cry  that  it 
reached  even  unto  the  Seven  Mountains  where  dwelt  the 
great  White  Deev,  arousing  him  from  his  mid-day  slum- 
ber. Then  suddenly  his  voice,  loud  as  a  clap  of  thunder, 
fell  upon  the  ear  of  the  wretched  Kaikous.  And  he  said: 


128  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

"Vain  Monarch!  Thou  thoughtest  in  thy  folly  to  con- 
quer the  land  of  the  Great  White  Deev,  who  from  the 
gorgeous  vault  of  heaven  can  charm  the  stars.  Thou  fool! 
Now  there  thou  liest,  struck  down  like  a  rotten  trunk,  and 
upon  thine  own  head  alone  resteth  this  destruction.  Verily, 
thou  hast  attained  unto  Mazinderan,  which  was  thy 
heart's  desire,  wherefore  be  now  content!" 

But  alas!  The  Shah  and  his  unfortunate  companions 
were  not  soon  to  know  content,  since  they  were  now  turned 
over  into  the  charge  of  twelve  thousand  Genii  whose  duty 
it  was  to  keep  them  in  prison,  withholding  from  them  wine 
and  all  good  cheer,  but  giving  unto  them  each  day  just 
enough  food  to  keep  them  alive,  that  their  suffering  might 
be  prolonged,  for  they  gloried  in  their  wretchedness. 

Now  thus  dwelt  Kaikous  in  the  land  after  which  his  heart 
had  yearned,  until  the  eyes  of  his  soul  being  opened,  in 
genuine  repentance,  he  bowed  himself  in  the  dust,  casting 
black  earth  upon  his  head  and  acknowledging  his  fault. 
Then,  casting  about  in  his  mind  how  they  might  obtain 
release,  finally,  after  many  weary  moons,  the  King  suc- 
ceeded in  sending  a  messenger  unto  Zal  of  the  white  hair. 
And  he  said: 

"O  my  Great  Pehliva,  hearken  unto  the  voice  of  thy 
sovereign  who  crieth  unto  thee  in  penitence  and  woe! 
Verily,  I  have  sought  what  the  foolish  seek,  and  found 
what  they  find,  and  I  deserve  not  thy  help,  since  I  turned 
a  deaf  ear  unto  thy  words  of  wisdom;  yet  for  my  compan- 
ions' sake,  I  beseech  thee  to  gird  thy  loins  and  come 
quickly  unto  us,  or  we  perish  in  our  misery." 

Thus  humbled  himself  the  great  Shah,  but  Zal,  when  he 
received  the  message,  was  cut  to  the  heart  that  the  pride  of 
Iran  should  be  thus  trailed  in  the  dust;  and  he  wrung  his 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  129 

hands  bitterly,  crying  out  against  the  folly  which  was  to 
cost  the  land  so  dear.  Nevertheless,  he  quickly  sent  for 
Rustem,  saying  unto  him: 

"  O  my  glorious  son,  word  hath  just  reached  me  that  the 
King  is  held  with  his  companions  blind  and  captive  in  the 
dragon's  den.  As  for  me,  I  am  old  and  feeble,  a  warrior 
bowed  with  the  weight  of  two  centuries,  no  longer  able  to 
fight  against  the  Deevs.  But  thou  art  young  and  thy  soul 
rejoiceth  in  battle.  Gird  about  thee,  therefore,  thy  leop- 
ard's skin,  saddle  Rakush,  and  deliver  the  King  from  out 
the  hands  of  the  Genii,  thus  winning  for  thyself  immortal 
fame." 

Now  Rustem  smiled  as  he  heard  his  father's  words,  say- 
ing unto  him: 

"  O  my  silver-crowned  father,  verily  thou  knowest  that 
Rakush  and  I  are  spoiling  for  battle,  and  though  of  old  the 
mighty  went  not  forth  to  fight  the  powers  of  darkness, 
being  not  so  weary  of  the  world  as  to  walk  willingly  into 
the  mouth  of  a  hungry  lion,  yet  with  God's  help  will  I 
overcome  these  wicked  Deevs,  and  gird  our  army  anew 
with  the  red  sash  of  might,  since  the  glory  of  Iran  de- 
mandeth  it." 

Then  Zal  blessed  his  son,  speaking  unto  him  long  and 
earnestly  as  to  the  arduous  task  before  him.  And  he  said : 

"I  understand,  O  my  son,  that  two  roads  lead  into  this 
land  of  enchantment,  both  of  them  difficult  and  dangerous. 
The  King  went  by  the  longer  way.  It  is  the  safest,  but  since 
it  behooveth  vengeance  to  be  fleet,  choose  it  not.  But  the 
other  way,  though  by  far  the  shorter,  is  beset  by  baleful 
evils,  and  is  surrounded  by  darkness.  Still  it  will  be 
wisest,  I  think,  to  go  by  this  road,  for  though  difficult,  it 
will  have  an  end,  and  Rakush  will  carry  thee  quicker  than 


130  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

a  bird  can  fly.  Go,  therefore,  my  son,  and  may  Ormuzd 
return  thee  safe  unto  my  arms.  If,  however,  it  be  the  will 
of  Heaven  that  thou  shouldst  perish  by  the  hand  of  the 
great  White  Deev,  why,  who  can  escape  his  destiny? 
Verily,  soon  or  late  Death's  door  swings  wide  for  every  child 
of  Ormuzd,  and  thrice  blessed  is  he  who  leaveth  behind 
him  in  the  world  a  trail  of  glory." 

When  Rustem  had  drunk  in  the  noble  words  of  his 
father,  he  embraced  him  tenderly,  feeling  his  strength  to 
be  sufficient  even  for  the  Great  White  Deev.  Then  he 
commanded  that  Rakush,  the  fleet  of  foot,  be  brought 
unto  him.  But  alas!  when  he  would  have  departed,  Ru- 
dabeh  uttered  bitter  cries  that  her  boy  should  be  sent  to 
fight  alone  and  unaided  the  wicked  Deevs,  and  in  her 
sorrow  she  would  have  hindered  him.  But  Rustem  suf- 
fered it  not,  making  light  of  her  fears  and  comforting  her 
with  his  voice  and  arms.  So  finally,  embracing  him, 
Rudabeh  let  him  depart,  but  her  heart  yearned  after  him, 
and  her  eyes  were  wet  with  tears  yet  many  days  after  his 
departure,  and  she  prayed  continually  unto  Ormuzd,  that 
Serosch  the  Angel  of  Pity  keep  nightly  watch  over  his 
slumbers. 

So,  with  only  his  faithful  steed  for  company,  but  brave 
of  heart,  Rustem  set  out  upon  his  perilous  journey;  and,  as 
if  recognizing  the  urgent  need  for  haste,  Rakush  caused  the 
ground  to  vanish  under  his  feet,  his  speed  being  so  great 
that  he  accomplished  two  days'  journey  in  one.  But  at 
last,  evening  having  fallen,  the  young  hero  of  the  world, 
finding  himself  weary  and  hungry,  decided  to  stop  for  the 
night. 

Now  the  plain  upon  which  Rustem  chose  his  camping- 
ground  was  filled  with  herds  of  gor,  which  made  it  easy  for 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  131 

him  to  secure  his  evening  meal,  since  there  was  no  escape 
for  the  swiftest  beast  when  Rustem  was  mounted  upon 
Rakush.  Soon,  therefore,  with  his  lasso,  he  succeeded  in 
snaring  a  wild  ass,  which  he  quickly  roasted  and  ate. 
Then,  his  hunger  appeased,  the  young  warrior  prepared 
for  himself  a  couch  among  the  reeds,  and,  his  mace  by  his 
side,  he  lay  down  to  sleep,  fearing  neither  wild  beast  nor 
Deev,  while  Rakush  grazed  contentedly  near  by. 

But,  unfortunately,  in  the  rushes  near  the  young  hero's 
couch  was  hidden  the  lair  of  a  fierce  lion,  and  after  Rustem 
had  fallen  asleep  the  hungry  beast,  attracted  by  the  odor 
of  the  gor's  flesh,  returned  unto  his  haunt;  and  then  a  pair 
of  fiery  eyeballs  moved  stealthily  nearer  and  nearer  unto 
the  dying  fire.  But  when  at  last  within  the  circle  of  light, 
what  was  the  lion's  astonishment  to  behold,  lying  peace- 
fully asleep  upon  the  rushes,  a  man  as  tall  as  an  elephant 
watched  over  by  a  noble  charger ! 

Now  the  king  of  the  forest  was  hungry,  not  having  been 
successful  in  his  hunting,  so  as  he  gazed  his  heart  rejoiced 
at  the  thought  of  the  fat  meal  in  store  for  him.  But,  being 
a  sagacious  beast,  he  said  unto  himself: 

"  Since  I  am  very,  very  hungry,  I  must  take  no  chance 
of  allowing  this  delicious  morsel  to  escape  my  lips.  Con- 
sequently, first  I  will  subdue  this  gentle-looking  steed; 
then  I  can  feast  upon  the  rider  at  my  leisure." 

So,  suddenly  the  huge  beast  bounded  from  the  under- 
brush, falling  upon  Rakush  with  great  violence.  But  the 
faithful  steed  was  not  caught  napping,  for  while  appar- 
ently unconscious  of  the  approach  of  danger,  he  had  at  once 
scented  the  foe,  and  was  ready  for  the  attack.  What  was 
the  lion's  astonishment,  therefore,  to  find  himself  received 
with  a  terrific  and  well-aimed  tick  that  sent  him  back  into 


132  PERSIAN.  HERO  TALES 

the  bushes  more  quickly  than  he  had  come  forth !  And  not 
only  that,  but  before  he  could  recover  from  his  amaze- 
ment, like  a  flash  of  light  Rakush  was  upon  him,  striking 
him  on  the  head  with  his  fore-feet,  tearing  him  with  his 
sharp  teeth,  and  battering  and  trampling  him  like  a  Demon. 
Yea,  so  furious  was  his  rage,  that  he  was  still  stamping 
upon  the  lifeless  mass  when  Rustem  awoke! 

Then  the  Hero,  seeing  the  dead  lion,  which  was  truly  of 
a  monstrous  size,  knew  at  once  what  had  happened,  and 
calling  Rakush,  he  rebuked  even  while  he  caressed  him. 
And  he  said : 

"Ah,  Rakush,  why  so  thoughtless  grown, 
To  fight  a  lion  thus  alone  ? 
For  had  it  been  thy  fate  to  bleed, 
And  not  thy  foe,  my  gallant  steed! 
How  could  thy  master  have  conveyed 
His  helm,  and  battle-axe,  and  blade, 
Unaided  to  Mazinderan? 
Why  didst  thou  fail  to  give  the  alarm, 
And  save  thyself  from  chance  of  harm, 
By  neighing  loudly  in  my  ear; 
But  though  thy  bold  heart  knows  no  fear, 
From  such  unwise  exploits  refrain, 
Nor  try  a  lion's  strength  again." 

Now  having  thus  exhorted  Rakush,  Rustem  again  com- 
posed himself  to  slumber,  and  rested  undisturbed  until  the 
morning  light  had  tinted  the  distant  mountain  peaks  with 
rose  and  amber.  Then  having  broken  his  fast,  he  saddled 
Rakush,  and  pursued  his  perilous  journey,  thanking  God 
that,  owing  to  the  faithfulness  and  bravery  of  his  steed,  the 
first  adventure  had  terminated  happily. 

But  alas!  he  had  now  to  accomplish  the  most  difficult 
part  of  his  journey,  for  the  way  led  across  a  waterless 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  133 

desert  so  hot  that  not  even  the  birds  could  fly  over  it. 
Now  the  morning  hours  were  endurable,  but  when  the 
noon-tide  sun  poured  down  upon  their  heads  its  pitiless 
rays,  making  of  the  sand  living  fire,  then  horse  and  rider 
became  tortured  with  the  most  maddening  thirst,  and  no- 
where could  water  be  found. 

At  this  crisis  Rustem  dismounted,  since  he  was  no  longer 
able  to  keep  his  place  upon  the  back  of  his  brave  steed, 
but,  nevertheless,  for  some  time  longer  he  continued  to 
struggle  forward,  supported  by  his  spear.  Finally,  how- 
ever, his  strength  became  broken  and,  utterly  exhausted, 
he  sank  upon  the  earth,  his  body  prostrate  upon  the  burn- 
ing sand,  his  tongue  and  throat  parched  with  thirst.  Then 
in  his  agony,  his  soul  lifted  itself  up  in  a  mighty  cry  unto  the 
Almighty  for  protection  against  the  evils  which  surrounded 
him,  for  he  feared  that  his  hour  was  come.  But  not  so, 
for  behold!  even  as  he  prayed,  there  passed  before  him 
a  well-nourished  ram,  which  was  at  once  hailed  by  the 
hero  as  a  harbinger  of  good.  For  he  said: 

"  Surely  an  oasis  must  be  somewhere  near,  or  how  could 
this  sheep  so  bear  upon  it  the  impress  of  the  drinking- 
place!" 

Rising  up  quickly,  therefore,  Rustem  followed  the  ram's 
footsteps,  holding  the  bridle  of  Rakush  in  one  hand  and 
his  sword  in  the  other,  and  behold!  it  led  him  unto  a  foun- 
tain of  water,  clear  and  cool,  in  the  shade  of  a  clump  of 
trees.  Stooping  down,  therefore,  Rustem  drank  greedily 
until  his  thirst  was  quenched,  giving  also  unto  Rakush, 
and  bathing  him  in  the  waters.  Then  being  refreshed, 
he  looked  about  for  the  ram,  but  lo!  it  had  vanished. 
So  then  Rustem  knew  that  Ormuzd  had  wrought  a 
wonder  for  his  sake,  and  falling  upon  the  ground,  he 


134  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

gave  thanks  unto  the  All-Merciful  One.  And  so  full  was 
his  heart  of  thanksgiving  that  he  also  blessed  the  ram, 
saying: 

"  O  Beast  of  God,  wherever  thou  art,  may  no  harm  come 
unto  thee  forever!  May  the  grass  of  the  valleys  and  of  the 
desert  be  always  green  for  thee!  May  the  spear- point  be 
blunted  and  the  bow  be  broken  of  him  who  would  hunt 
thee,  or  do  thee  harm!  For  verily,  without  thy  guidance, 
Rustem  would  have  perished  in  the  desert,  and  the  heroes 
of  Iran  would  have  been  left  without  succor  in  the  hands  of 
the  cruel  Deevs." 

And  now  the  Mighty  One,  being  hungry,  killed  another 
gor,  of  which  he  ate  almost  the  whole.  Then  having 
bathed  in  the  fountain,  as  the  shades  of  night  were 
coming  on  he  gladly  sought  a  resting-place  among  the 
stunted  herbage.  But  before  lying  down  he  said  unto 
Rakush: 

"Beware,  my  steed,  of  future  strife, 
Again  thou  must  not  risk  thy  life; 
But  should  an  enemy  appear, 
Ring  loud  thy  warning  in  my  ear." 

Now  having  thus  spoken,  with  a  sigh  of  thankfulness 
that  his  second  adventure  had  terminated  thus  happily, 
Rustem  threw  himself  down  upon  his  warrior's  couch, 
and  being  fatigued,  soon  sleep  wrapped  him  about,  hold- 
ing him  fast  until  the  bright  constellations  in  the  tropical 
sky  pointed  to  the  hour  of  midnight. 

Then  he  was  awakened  unto  a  new  horror,  for  you  must 
know  that  in  this  part  of  the  desert  there  lived  a  monstrous 
dragon,  eighty  yards  in  length,  and  so  fierce  that  neither 
elephant,  nor  demon,  nor  lion  ever  ventured  to  pass  by  its 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  135 

lair.  Yea,  so  terrible  was  it  that  not  even  the  birds  dared 
fly  across  that  part  of  the  desert,  for  with  its  poisonous 
breath  it  could  bring  down  even  the  eagle  from  the  sky. 
Imagine,  then,  how  this  scourge  of  the  desert  opened  wide 
his  snaky  eyes  with  astonishment  when,  emerging  from 
the  forest  at  the  turn  of  the  night,  he  beheld  a  man  slum- 
bering softly  beside  his  lair! 

But,  as  usual,  Rakush  was  on  the  alert.  Consequently, 
as  he  caught  the  gleam  of  beady  eyes,  and  scented  the 
poisoned  breath  of  the  dragon,  he  quickly  stepped  nearer 
to  his  unconscious  master,  stamping  with  his  hoofs  upon  the 
ground,  beating  the  air  with  his  tail,  and  neighing  loudly. 
Now  all  this  noise  so  startled  the  dragon  that  he  quickly 
drew  back  into  the  forest,  and  as  a  consequence,  when 
Rustem  awoke  he  could  see  nothing  disquieting,  for 
of  course  the  monster  had  vanished.  Seeing  no  cause 
for  alarm,  therefore,  he  was  angry  at  being  needlessly 
disturbed,  and  rebuked  Rakush  for  his  nervousness, 
saying: 

"  Rakush,  thou  thunderer !  I  fear  me  the  sun  hath  turned 
thy  brain.  Quiet  now,  quiet!  for  to-morrow  will  bring  for 
us  another  hard  day's  journey." 

So,  having  thus  somewhat  calmed  his  excited  steed, 
once  more  Rustem  gave  himself  up  to  slumber,  but  not  for 
long!  For,  though  the  darkness  became  thicker  and  more 
impenetrable,  in  a  short  time  the  watchful  horse  once  more 
caught  the  gleam  of  baleful  eyes,  and  again  he  ran  with  all 
speed  unto  his  master,  tearing  up  the  ground  and^eighing 
angrily.  So  a  second  time  was  Rustem  awakened  and  a 
second  time  also  did  the  dragon  vanish  ere  the  eyes  of  the 
hero  beheld  him.  Then  was  Rustem  angry,  and  in  his 
impatience  he  spake  sharply  unto  Rakush,  chiding  him 


136  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

for  thus  disturbing   his   slumbers  by  causeless   alarms. 
And  he  said  unto  his  brave  steed: 

"Why  thus  again  disturb  my  rest, 
When  sleep  had  softly  soothed  my  breast? 
I  told  thee  if  thou  chanced  to  see 
Another  dangerous  enemy 
To  sound  the  alarm;  but  not  to  keep 
Depriving  me  of  needful  sleep, 
When  nothing  meets  the  eye  nor  ear, 
Nothing  to  cause  a  moment's  fear! 
Now  if  again  my  rest  is  broke, 
On  thee  shall  fall  the  fatal  stroke, 
And  I  myself  will  drag  this  load 
Of  ponderous  arms  along  the  road; 
Yea,  I  will  go,  a  lonely  man, 
Without  thee  to  Mazinderan." 

Alas,  poor  Rakush!  grieved  and  wounded  by  the  unjust 
reproaches  of  his  master,  with  drooping  head  he  drew 
quickly  back;  but  as  Rustem  wrapped  his  leopard's  skin 
about  him,  and  a  third  time  slept,  softly  he  drew  near  once 
more,  standing  a  tireless  watcher  by  his  side.  Then  the 
dragon,  seeing  that  the  hero  slept,  once  more  came  forth, 
prepared  to  fall  upon  him,  and  Rakush  was  sore  dis- 
tressed, for  he  knew  not  how  to  act.  But  as  his  love  for  his 
master  was  great,  taking  courage,  once  more  he  stamped 
the  earth  and  woke  him. 

Then  Rustem  sprang  up  in  a  rage,  but  Ormuzd  who 
watcheth  ever  over  his  children,  at  this  moment  caused  the 
eastern  sky  to  flush  with  a  rosy  glow,  in  the  light  of  which 
the  hero  beheld  the  prodigious  cause  of  alarm.  Pausing 
not,  therefore,  he  quickly  drew  about  him  his  armor,  and, 
unsheathing  his  sword,  rushed  forward  to  meet  the  ugly 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  137 

monster.  But  to  his  surprise,  as  he  advanced,  the  dragon 
spoke,  and  he  said: 

"Vain  creature,  what  doest  thou  here?  Verily,  the 
mother  that  bare  thee  shall  weep,  for  I  will  tear  thy  soul 
from  out  thy  body,  and  thy  name,  if  thou  hast  one,  shall  be 
blotted  from  the  book  of  life,  for  no  man  hath  ever  yet 
saved  himself  from  my  claws." 

Uttering  this  terrible  threat,  the  dragon  belched  forth 
fire  and  roared  horribly,  but  Rustem,  no  whit  deterred, 
continued  to  advance,  saying  proudly: 

"Hideous  monster!  Thinkest  thou  to  terrify  me  with 
thy  smoke  and  noisy  words?  If  so,  thou  errest.  For 
behold!  I  am  Rustem,  son  of  the  white-haired  Zal,  and 
there  is  naught  upon  earth  that  I  fear,  for  I  come  of  a  race 
of  heroes." 

Now  hearing  these  bold  words,  the  dragon  laughed,  for 
he  held  them  to  be  the  vain  boasts  of  a  stripling;  and 
again  he  vomited  forth  fire  and  poison.  Then  he  fell  upon 
Rustem,  and  dreadful  was  the  shock,  and  perilous  unto  the 
hero,  for  the  vile  creature  wound  himself  around  and 
about  his  body,  threatening  to  crush  him  with  his  writh- 
ings,  and  you  would  have  said  that  the  end  of  the  valiant 
one  was  at  hand,  so  dreadful  was  the  dragon's  embrace. 

But  at  this  perilous  moment,  Rakush,  beholding  the 
contest  to  be  doubtful,  laid  back  his  ears  and  proceeded 
to  take  a  hand  in  the  battle.  And  being  wise,  he  fell  upon 
the  enemy  from  the  rear,  with  his  keen  teeth,  furiously 
biting  and  tearing  away  the  dragon's  scaly  hide,  just  as  he 
had  torn  the  lion.  Now  this  gave  unto  the  pinioned  hero 
his  opportunity,  and,  quick  as  thought,  he  severed  the 
ghastly  head,  deluging  all  the  plain  with  horrid  blood. 
And  lo!  as  the  hideous  coils  unclasped,  the  amazement  of 


138  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Rustem  was  truly  great  as  he  gazed  at  the  monstrous  form 
which  extended  endlessly  before  him;  and  he  wondered 
not  that  for  centuries  it  should  have  been  known  unto  men 
as  the  scourge  of  the  desert. 

Giving  thanks  unto  the  Omnipotent,  therefore,  that  it 
had  been  vouchsafed  unto  him  to  rid  the  world  of  so  great 
a  pest,  after  bathing  Rakush  at  the  fountain,  he  sprang 
into  the  saddle  and  started  out  upon  his  fourth  adventure. 

Now  all  that  day  Rustem  travelled  across  the  plain, 
arriving  at  sunset  in  the  land  of  the  magicians,  and  as  here 
all  was  enchantment,  everything  was  most  beautiful.  The 
feathered  palms  along  the  way  nodded  their  heads  lazily, 
coquetting  with  the  soft  south  wind,  while  the  bananas 
flaunted  their  silken  flags  around  the  ripening  fruit,  and  on 
the  ground,  in  rich  profusion,  lay,  temptingly,  rose-apples 
and  citrons.  A  crystal  stream  flowed  along  between  slop- 
ing banks  of  luxurious  foliage,  and  in  the  woods  the 
glorious  nightingale  chanted  joyously  unto  the  nodding 
flowers. 

And  lo!  in  this  beautiful  wilderness,  upon  the  sight  of 
the  hungry  adventurer  there  suddenly  appeared  a  daintily- 
spread  table,  where  the  richest  tropical  fruits  and  sweets 
lay  beside  a  roast  of  venison,  while  the  cups  were  filled  with 
purple  wine.  Now  seeing,  thus  unexpectedly,  in  the  green 
and  shady  vale,  all  this  good  cheer  awaiting  him,  Rustem's 
heart  sang  with  delight,  for  he  suspected  not  that  it  was 
the  evening  meal  of  certain  magicians  who  had  made  them- 
selves invisible  at  his  approach. 

So,  hastily  dismounting,  the  weary  warrior  unsaddled 
Rakush,  bidding  him  graze  and  drink.  Then  seating 
himself  at  the  table,  he  partook  freely  of  the  dainty  fare, 
his  spirit  laughing  with  pleasure  at  finding  in  the  wildwood 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  139 

such  an  excellently-appointed  table.  Indeed,  so  gay  in 
spirit  was  he  that,  his  hunger  being  satisfied,  he  took  up 
the  lyre  which  he  saw  lying  by  the  flagon  of  wine,  and 
chanted  a  lively  ditty  about  his  own  wanderings  and  the 
exploits  which  he  most  loved;  and  ever  and  again  there 
echoed  the  refrain : 

"Oh,  the  scourge  of  the  wicked  am  I, 
And  my  days  still  in  battle  go  by; 
Not  for  me  is  the  red  wine  that  glows 
In  the  reveller's  cup,  nor  the  rose 
That  blooms  in  the  land  of  delight; 
But  with  monsters  and  demons  to  fight." 

Alas!  though  Rustem  dreamed  it  not,  as  he  sang  his 
voice  reached  the  ears  of  a  famous  enchantress,  who  quickly 
changed  herself  into  a  beautiful  maiden  with  a  face  of 
spring,  lovely  as  only  enchantment  could  make  her,  as  you 
shall  hear.  For  her  complexion  was  like  shell-tinted  ivory; 
her  lips  like  the  pomegranate  and  her  cheek  like  its  flower; 
her  soft,  dark  eyes  were  curtained  with  long,  sweeping 
lashes,  and  her  eyebrows  were  arched  like  a  fringed  bow; 
her  lovely  form,  scarcely  concealed  by  the  misty,  oriental 
robes  which  she  wore,  was  a  joy  to  behold,  and  so  sweet 
was  she  that,  at  her  coming,  all  the  air  was  perfumed  with 
the  delicate  fragrance  of  a  spring  garden. 

But  though  conscious  of  a  new  sensation  of  delight,  at 
first  Rustem  did  not  realize  that  he  was  no  longer  alone. 
As  the  bewitching  maiden  drew  nearer,  however,  singing 
softly  Rustem's  refrain,  and  holding  out  her  beautiful 
hands  in  greeting,  then  indeed  did  his  heart  pulse  strangely, 
for  never  had  he  beheld  such  dazzling  loveliness.  And, 
moreover,  resting  herself  at  his  side,  and  turning  her  ra- 
diant eyes  upon  him,  his  charming  guest  now  crooned  into 


140  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

his  ear  a  strange  song  of  enchantment  which  disturbed 
while  it  yet  delighted  the  hero. 

Remembering  the  duties  of  hospitality,  however,  as  the 
music  ceased,  the  enraptured  warrior  extended  unto  his 
beautiful  companion  a  glass  of  wine  in  welcome,  bidding 
her  drink  in  the  name  of  Ormuzd.  But  behold!  as  the 
hero  named  the  name  of  God,  suddenly  the  wicked  sor- 
ceress changed  color,  becoming  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye 
as  black  as  charcoal.  Then  Rustem  knew  her  for  a  witch, 
and  quick  as  the  wind  he  snared  her  in  his  lasso,  crying 
unto  her: 

"Thou  wicked  creature,  show  thyself  at  once  in  thy  true 
shape,  for  I  would  not  destroy  the  innocent." 

Now  at  these  words  of  the  Hero,  immediately  the  witch 
was  changed  into  a  decrepit,  leering  old  creature  whose 
whole  being  showed  her  wickedness  of  heart.  Therefore, 
with  a  single  blow  of  his  sword,  Rustem  severed  her  in 
twain.  But  behold!  as  he  would  have  swept  the  vile  clay 
from  his  path,  it  vanished,  and  the  low,  mocking  laugh  of 
the  fiend  was  heard  in  the  distance,  showing  that  not  even 
the  sword  had  power  to  hurt  her.  And  gone,  too,  was  the 
dainty  table  with  its  tempting  viands  and  poisoned  wine; 
for  the  magicians,  when  they  beheld  the  valor  of  Rustem 
and  realized  that  he  was  under  the  protection  of  God, 
dared  not  come  forth  to  contend  with  him.  So  in  this 
fourth  adventure,  also,  was  the  son  of  Zal  victorious. 
Nevertheless,  he  tarried  not  longer  in  this  spot,  for  it  had 
become  hateful  unto  him. 

Continuing  his  journey,  therefore,  Rustem  pressed  rap- 
idly forward  until  the  following  morning,  when  lo!  he  was 
come  unto  the  land  of  darkness,  where  the  sun  never  shone, 
neither  did  moon  nor  star  ever  lighten  up  the  awful,  im- 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  141 

penetrable  gloom.  Now  here  he  paused,  not  knowing 
what  new  trial  the  darkess  might  conceal.  But  presently, 
lifting  up  his  heart  unto  Ormuzd  for  protection  and  guid- 
ance, he  gave  unto  Rakush  the  rein,  and  plunged  boldly 
forward  into  the  gloom.  But  ah,  the  horror  of  it!  for 
there  was  no  path,  and  so  for  many  long  hours  they  stum- 
bled about  in  the  pitch  blackness,  constantly  on  the  alert 
against  unknown  danger,  and  not  knowing  whither  their 
steps  might  lead  them.  But  finally,  thanks  unto  the  All- 
Merciful  One,  the  intense  darkness  lightened,  and  they 
emerged  into  a  most  beautiful  country  where  the  sun  was 
shining  brightly  and  the  earth  was  covered  with  waving 
grain. 

And  here,  being  tired  after  the  long,  hard  travel,  Rustem 
dismounted,  took  off  his  cuirass  of  tiger-skin  and  his  hel- 
met, and  bidding  Rakush  find  pasture  where  he  would 
in  the  fertile  fields,  he  himself  lay  down  to  sleep,  his  shield 
beneath  his  head  and  his  sword  and  mace  by  his  side. 

Yea,  and  while  the  tired  Rustem  slept,  his  faithful  horse 
grazed  upon  the  growing  corn,  storing  up  strength  for 
future  prowess.  But  alas!  a  disturbing  element  soon  en- 
tered upon  this  scene  of  peace  and  contentment.  For  the 
keeper  of  the  pasture  returning  unto  the  field,  and  behold- 
ing a  strange  horse  destroying  and  devouring  his  corn, 
became  filled  with  rage,  so  that  running  unto  the  spot 
where  the  weary  warrior  was  couched,  he  flung  at  him  re- 
proaches and  evil  words,  at  the  same  time  beating  the  soles 
of  his  feet  with  a  stick.  Then,  having  roused  him,  he  said: 

"Son  of  Satan!  Why  allowest  thou  thy  demon  steed  to 
rifle  our  corn-fields?  Verily,  if  thou  wouldst  keep  thy 
soul  in  thy  hulking  body,  up  and  away,  both  thee  and  thy 
beast,  else  it  will  be  the  worse  for  thee!" 


142  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Now  for  just  one  second,  after  being  thus  rudely  awak- 
ened, Rustem  gazed  quietly  at  the  keeper.  Then,  without 
uttering  a  single  syllable,  good  or  bad,  he  sprang  up,  seized 
him  by  the  ears,  and  wrenched  them  from  his  head.  And 
lo!  the  mutilated  wretch,  surprised  and  dismayed  at  this 
treatment,  gathered  up  the  severed  members  and  fled 
howling  unto  his  master,  Aulad,  who  was  the  ruler  of  all 
this  fertile  country.  Bursting  into  his  presence,  therefore, 
his  ears  in  his  hand,  the  keeper  bawled: 

"Master,  Master!  Behold,  out  in  the  fields  there  is  a 
great  black  demon  and  his  steed,  a  veritable  son  of  Satan, 
clad  in  a  tiger-skin  cuirass,  and  an  iron  helmet!  And  alas! 
alas!  not  recognizing  him  as  a  demon,  thy  faithful  servant 
attempted  gently  to  remonstrate  with  him  because  that  his 
horse  was  trampling  and  devouring  the  corn,  when, 
wouldst  thou  believe  it?  without  a  word,  suddenly  he 
leaped  upon  me,  tore  my  ears  from  my  head,  and  then 
calmly  lay  down  to  sleep  again.  And  lo!  here  are  my 
ears  in  my  hands." 

Now  as  it  happened,  when  the  keeper  burst  upon  Aulad 
with  his  shocking  tale,  the  great  warrior  was  about  to  go 
hunting  with  his  chiefs;  but  being  informed  of  this  most 
surprising  deed  of  violence,  he  became  so  filled  with  wrath 
that  at  once  he  called  together  his  fighting  men,  and  has- 
tened unto  the  place  indicated  by  the  keeper,  swearing 
vengeance  upon  the  perpetrator  of  the  evil  deed,  be  he 
man  or  demon. 

But  Rustem  was  prepared  for  the  invaders,  since,  seeing 
the  approach  of  Aulad  and  his  warriors,  he  had  donned  his 
armor,  mounted  upon  Rakush,  and  now  rode  boldly  for- 
ward, his  soul  filled  with  joy  at  the  thought  of  battle,  even 
though  it  was  to  be  one  against  a  hundred.  And,  indeed, 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  143 

so  gigantic  and  fearsome  looked  he,  with  the  spirit  of  the 
fight  upon  him,  that  Aulad  himself  questioned,  as  he  drew 
near,  whether  his  antagonist  was  man  or  demon.  Never- 
theless, he  shouted  unto  him  angrily: 

"Son  of  Perdition,  what  is  thy  name?  And  why  comest 
thou  here  to  disturb  our  peace?  Verily,  thou  shalt  pay 
dearly  for  lopping  off  my  keeper's  ears,  and  thy  demon 
steed  also  for  trampling  my  crops." 

Then  Rustem,  heeding  not  the  puny  threats  of  Aulad, 
thundered  forth  disdainfully,  his  words  striking  like  can- 
non-balls: 

"Thou  Worm!  Verily,  if  thou  shouldst  hear  my  name, 
it  would  freeze  the  blood  in  thy  veins,  causing  thy  heart 
to  stand  still  with  terror.  And  though  thou  art  come  out 
against  me  with  a  host,  behold  how  I  shall  scatter  them! 
Yea,  they  shall  fall  beneath  my  sword  like  unto  leaves  in 
an  autumn  gale,  and  the  earth  shall  be  watered  with  their 
blood." 

And  this  was  no  idle  threat,  for,  having  thus  spoken, 
Rustem  drew  his  sword,  and  fastening  his  lasso  securely 
to  his  saddle-bow,  dashed  at  the  foe  as  a  lion  into  the 
midst  of  a  herd  of  oxen,  and  dreadful  was  the  havoc! 
Now,  with  every  blow  of  his  sword  he  cut  off  a  warrior's 
head,  his  arm  working  as  by  magic,  until  he  had  beaten 
down  or  scattered  the  whole  company.  And  lo!  as  Aulad 
saw  what  was  come  to  pass,  he  wept  and  fled  in  dismay. 
But  he  was  not  to  escape,  for  Rustem,  pursuing  him, 
threw  his  lasso  about  his  neck,  so  that  the  world  became 
dark  unto  Aulad.  Then,  having  bound  him,  the  hero  said 
unto  his  captive: 

"  O  Pinioned  One,  listen  unto  the  voice  of  a  wise  coun- 
sellor who  sayeth  unto  thee :  Verily,  if  thou  wilt  faithfully 


144  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

point  out  unto  me  the  caves  of  the  White  Deev  and  his 
warrior  chiefs,  and  wilt  guide  me  to  where  the  Shah  and 
his  men  are  imprisoned,  saying  unto  me  how  I  can  deliver 
them  from  their  bondage,  then,  as  I  live,  thy  reward  shall 
be  the  kingdom  of  Mazinderan,  for  I  myself  will  place 
thee  upon  that  throne.  But  beware,  if  thou  deceivest  me, 
for  in  that  moment  thy  worthless  blood  shall  dye  the  earth." 

Now  having  listened  unto  the  voice  of  Rustem,  Aulad 
was  glad,  and  he  said: 

"  Stay,  O  Mighty  Warrior,  and  be  not  wroth,  for  verily 
thy  desires  shall  be  fulfilled!  Behold,  a  hundred  farsangs 
from  this  spot  is  where  Kaikous  groaneth  in  bondage,  but 
it  is  yet  another  hundred  farsangs  unto  the  mountain  pass 
where  dwelleth  the  Great  White  Deev.  Here,  between 
two  dark  and  lofty  mountains,  in  two  hundred  caves, 
immeasurably  deep,  his  people  dwell.  But  dangerous  is 
the  way,  for  the  passes  are  guarded  by  lions  and  magicians, 
and  a  stormy  desert  lieth  full  before  thee,  which  not  even 
the  nimble  deer  hath  ever  passed.  Then  a  broad  stream 
two  farsangs  wide  will  obstruct  thy  path,  and  upon  its 
banks  thou  wilt  behold  a  mighty  host  of  demon  warriors 
who  ever  guard  the  passage  unto  Mazinderan. 

"O  Mighty  One,  verily  thou  art  terrible  in  battle;  but 
for  all  thy  strong  arms  and  hands,  thy  keen,  life-destroy- 
ing sword  and  thy  giant  club,  I  fear  me  thou  wilt  find  the 
White  Deev  a  terrible  enemy.  For  lo!  like  unto  a  reed 
the  mountains  tremble,  if  the  Terrible  One  but  raiseth  his 
voice.  And  moreover,  even  if  by  the  help  of  Ormuzd  thou 
shouldst  conquer  this  mighty  chief  of  all  the  master  magi- 
cians, behold,  in  the  city  of  Mazinderan  thou  wilt  be 
pitted  against  thousands  of  demon  warriors,  and  not  a 
coward  among  them  all.  War-elephants  have  they,  too, 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  145 

by  the  hundreds,  and  they  rage  in  battle  with  the  fury  of 
the  crocodile,  while  every  demon  chief  fighteth  in  his 
saddle  like  sharp-fanged  dragons. 

"And  now,  I  ask  thee,  O  valorous  chief,  canst  thou, 
alone  and  unaided,  yet  hope  to  overcome  these  fearful  sons 
of  Satan  and  all  the  obstacles  that  block  the  way?" 

Now  hearing  all  this,  Rustem  answered  simply  unto 
Aulad,  and  he  said: 

"  O  Timorous  One,  show  me  but  the  way  and  thou  shalt 
see  what  a  single  man,  who  putteth  his  trust  in  God,  can 
do,  even  though  pitted  against  the  powers  of  darkness." 

So  Rustem  mounted  once  more  upon  Rakush  and  rode 
forward  upon  his  sixth  adventure;  and  Aulad,  having 
been  loosened  from  his  bonds,  ran  in  front  of  him  to  show 
the  way.  Now  for  a  whole  day  and  a  night  they  sped  like 
the  wind,  neither  did  they  halt  until  they  were  come  near 
unto  the  spot  where  Kaikous  had  fallen  into  the  power  of 
the  evil  Deevs.  And  here,  about  midnight,  suddenly  they 
heard  a  great  beating  of  drums  and  saw  many  fires  blaze 
up.  Then  Rustem  said  unto  Aulad: 

"I  pray  thee,  good  Aulad,  what  meaneth  this  piercing 
clamor,  and  the  watch-fires  blazing  up  to  right  and  left  of 
us?" 

Then  the  guide,  starting  up,  replied  unto  Rustem: 

"O  Mighty  One,  behold,  yonder  is  Mazinderan!  And 
verily  it  seemeth  unto  me  that  Arzang,  the  most  powerful 
chief  of  the  Great  White  Deev,  must  have  arrived  to- 
night, else  why  these  sounds  of  greeting!" 

Being  satisfied,  therefore,  as  to  the  cause  of  the  disturb- 
ance, Rustem  lay  calmly  down  once  more  and  slept 
soundly  until  dawn.  Then  having  bound  his  guide  unto 
a  tree  to  keep  him  safe,  the  hero  donned  his  helmet,  and 


146  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

also  the  magic  tiger-skin  to  defend  his  broad  chest,  and 
with  his  grandfather's  club  hanging  safe  at  his  saddle- 
bow, he  rode  boldly  forward  unto  the  city  of  Deevs.  And 
behold!  when  he  was  come  near  unto  the  camp  of  Arzang, 
he  uttered  a  cry  that  rent  the  mountains — that  terrible 
battle-cry  which  from  this  time  forth  was  to  strike  terror  to 
the  heart  of  many  a  valiant  foe! 

Now  upon  hearing  this  mighty  cry  of  a  human  voice, 
surprised,  the  great  Arzang  issued  hastily  from  his  tent, 
ready  and  anxious  to  attack  this  bold  invader  of  his  camp. 
But  Rustem,  setting  spurs  unto  Rakush,  galloped  forward 
like  the  wind,  seized  the  mighty  chief,  and  dangling  him 
in  his  grasp  like  a  puny  worm,  behold,  in  the  twinkling  of 
an  eye  he  had  wrenched  off  the  ugly  black  head  and  cast 
it,  all  gory,  far  into  the  ranks  of  the  shuddering  Deevs,  who, 
beholding  the  fate  of  their  chief,  and  dismayed  at  the  sight 
of  Rustem' s  mighty  club,  now  fled  in  the  wildest  confusion, 
fathers  trampling  their  sons  in  their  eagerness  to  escape. 
But  as  by  a  hungry  lion  they  were  pursued,  hundreds  of 
them  being  put  to  the  sword.  And  lo!  the  fear  of  Rustem 
was  great  in  the  land. 

But  the  hero  of  this  mighty  adventure,  having  ceased 
from  pursuing  the  scattered  Deevs,  paused  not.  Quickly 
returning  unto  his  guide,  therefore,  he  commanded  that  he 
now  lead  the  way  unto  the  prison-house  where  Kaikous 
and  his  companions  pined  in  bondage.  So  Aulad  led  on  as 
before,  and  behold!  when  they  were  come  unto  Mazinderan, 
Rakush  neighed,  and  neighed  so  joyously  that  the  sound  of 
it  pierced  even  unto  the  ears  of  the  captive  monarch  who, 
hearing  it,  exclaimed  rapturously  unto  his  companions: 

"Dance!  Dance  for  joy,  O  my  comrades!  for  surely 
our  evil  days  are  ended.  Listen!  Hear  ye  not  the  voice 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  147 

of  Rakush  ?  Yea,  it  is  the  voice  of  Rakush,  for  so  neighed 
he  in  the  days  of  old  when  he  and  his  master  first  tasted  the 
joys  of  battle  in  the  war  against  Afrasiab." 

Alas!  the  Persians,  when  they  heard  the  words  of  the 
King,  shook  their  heads  sorrowfully,  thinking  that  grief 
had  distraught  his  wits,  for  they  heard  not  the  neighing 
of  Rakush,  neither  could  the  monarch  convince  them. 
Imagine  their  delight,  therefore,  when  Rustem  presently 
appeared !  Verily,  so  wild  with  joy  were  these  poor  blind 
warriors  at  the  prospect  of  release,  that  Rustem  himself 
shed  tears  of  gladness,  giving  thanks  anew  unto  Ormuzd 
for  protecting  and  guiding  him  hither.  Then  having  re- 
lated unto  them  the  story  of  his  wonderful  progress  and 
adventures,  the  King,  embracing  him,  said: 

"O  Beloved  of  Ormuzd!  Truly  there  is  none  like  unto 
thee  for  prowess;  nay,  not  even  the  great  Saum,  thy  glori- 
ous grandsire,  ever  equalled  thee!  But  enough  of  sweet 
words!  for,  jf  we  are  to  be  delivered  from  our  bondage,  not 
a  moment  must  be  wasted. 

"Behold,  it  is  borne  in  upon  me,  O  my  Pehliva,  that 
when  the  Great  White  Deev  shall  hear  of  the  fall  of  Ar- 
zang,  his  favorite  chief,  he  will  surely  come  forth  from  out 
his  mountain  fastness,  bringing  with  him  such  a  multitude 
of  evil  ones  that  not  even  thy  great  might  will  enable  thee  to 
stand  before  them.  Go,  therefore,  at  once  unto  the  Seven 
Mountains  and  conquer  the  hideous  monster  before  he 
heareth  of  thy  coming. 

"And  alas!  I  must  send  thee  forth  alone  upon  this  dan- 
gerous adventure,  for  we  cannot  help  thee — being  all  of  us 
blind;  yet  is  this  new  enterprise  far  more  difficult  than  any 
thou  hast  had  to  encounter,  and  the  odds  are  tremendous 
against  thee.  For  the  way  lieth  over  the  Seven  Mountains, 


148  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

all  of  them  guarded  by  troops  of  Genii,  and  if  thou  art  suc- 
cessful in  passing  over  them,  then  thou  wilt  see  before  thee 
a  deep,  dark  cavern,  more  terrible,  I  have  heard,  than  the 
pit  of  eternal  darkness.  Now  the  entrance  is  guarded  by 
horrible  monsters,  and  in  its  depths  dwelleth  the  Great 
White  Deev  who  is  both  the  terror  and  the  hope  of  his 
army.  And  alas!  our  hope  is  he,  too.  For  a  Mubid  hath 
revealed  unto  me  that  the  only  remedy  for  our  blindness  is 
to  drop  into  our  eyes  three  drops  of  the  White  Deev's 
blood. 

"  Go  forth,  therefore,  O  Hero  of  Might,  slay  the  Deev, 
and  bring  back  unto  us  the  blood  of  his  heart.  Then  shall 
the  tree  of  gladness  blossom  once  more  in  Iran,  and  the 
name  of  Rustem  be  blazoned  among  the  stars." 

Now  thus  exhorted,  once  more  the  son  of  Zal  vaulted 
into  the  saddle,  Rakush  carrying  him  like  the  wind,  while 
Aulad  showed  unto  him  the  way.  So  they  sped,  and  when 
they  were  come  unto  the  Seven  Mountains,  having  passed 
through  difficulties  many  and  sore,  behold,  not  only  the 
summits,  but  all  the  caverns,  were  crowded  with  myriads 
of  companies  of  Deevs,  fierce,  black,  and  horrible  beyond 
belief,  seeing  which,  Rustem  said  unto  Aulad: 

"  Behold,  the  time  of  conflict  hath  come!  Say  unto  me, 
therefore,  how  I  may  vanquish  this  innumerable  host  of 
evil  ones." 

Then  Aulad,  shaking  his  head  doubtfully,  replied  unto 
Rustem: 

"O  Mighty  One!  Verily  thou  hast  one  hope,  and  but 
one.  I  counsel  thee,  therefore,  that  thou  tarry  here  until 
the  sun  be  high  in  the  heavens,  for  at  noonday,  when  it 
beateth  fierce  upon  the  earth,  the  Deevs  are  wont  to  slum- 
ber. Then  when  they  are  drunk  with  sleep,  fall  suddenly 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  149 

upon  them,  for  thus  victory  may  be  thine,  if  so  the  stars 
decree." 

So  Rustem,  taking  Aulad's  advice,  halted  by  the  road- 
side until  the  sun  was  at  its  highest.  Then  binding  his 
guide  securely,  he  drew  forth  his  sword,  and  uttering  his 
thunderous  battle-cry,  he  rushed  upon  the  hordes  of  evil 
Deevs,  slaying  first  the  few  waking  sentinels,  and  then 
rapidly  destroying  the  slumbering  fiends.  Nor  was  there 
noise  or  confusion,  for  as  each  black  one  awoke,  so  sud- 
denly he  received  his  death  blow  that  he  had  no  time  to 
give  the  alarm;  and  so  swift  and  terrible  was  Rustem  in 
his  work  of  slaughter  that  few  escaped  his  fury.  And 
harmless  were  those  who  did,  for  at  once  they  fled  scream- 
ing into  the  deepest  caves  of  the  mountain,  leaving  the 
champion  victorious.  Then  Rustem,  having  thus  dis- 
persed the  guards,  advanced  fearlessly  unto  the  lair  of  the 
Great  White  Deev. 

But  alas!  alas!  Never  in  all  his  imaginings  had  the  hero 
dreamed  of  a  place  so  gloomy,  and  foul,  and  awesome. 
And  as  he  stood  at  the  mouth  of  the  cave,  looking  down, 
down  into  the  black  recesses,  dismal  as  the  pit  of  eternal 
darkness,  for  a  time  he  doubted  as  to  what  he  should  do. 
But  as  he  was  void  of  fear,  presently  he  decided  to  go 
forward. 

Now  the  air  of  the  cavern  was  murky  and  heavy  with 
evil  odors,  and  as  Rustem  advanced  he  could  not  see  his 
path.  But,  though  he  knew  that  danger  lurked  on  every 
side,  and  that  at  any  moment  he  might  have  to  encounter 
the  evil  genius  of  the  place,  as  well  as  the  powers  of  magic, 
his  heart  quaked  not.  Nay;  not  even  when  at  last  there 
loomed  up  before  him  from  out  the  darkness  a  monstrous 
shape  which  filled  the  whole  breadth  of  the  huge  cavern, 


150  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

did  he  tremble  or  draw  back.  Yet  well  he  knew  by  the  thun- 
derous snoring  that  this  was  no  huge,  snow-capped  moun- 
tain, but  the  Great  White  Deev  taking  his  noonday  nap. 

Bold  as  a  lion,  therefore,  Rustem  advanced,  shouting 
his  piercing  battle-cry,  for  he  scorned  to  take  advantage  of 
his  adversary  while  he  slept.  But  verily  he  knew  not  what 
he  did,  for  upon  being  thus  suddenly  aroused  from  slum- 
ber, the  wrath  of  the  Great  White  Deev  was  terrible. 
Uttering  a  hideous  shriek  that  made  the  blood  run  cold, 
quickly  he  caught  up  from  the  ground  in  his  mammoth 
hand  a  stone  as  big  as  a  small  mountain,  and  pausing  not, 
with  flaming  eyes  and  foaming  lips  he  advanced,  hurling 
it  with  all  the  force  of  his  powerful  arm  straight  at  the 
head  of  Rustem.  But  in  vain;  for  quick  as  light  it  was 
dodged  by  the  hero.  Nevertheless,  now  for  the  first  time 
Rustem  felt  a  thrill  of  fear,  so  malignantly  awful  appeared 
the  Deev. 

Nevertheless,  summoning  all  his  strength  for  a  mighty 
effort,  in  return  for  the  stone  the  son  of  Zal  dealt  the  on- 
coming monster  such  a  powerful  stroke  with  his  sword  as 
to  cut  off  one  of  his  feet.  Now  this  so  infuriated  the  Deev 
that,  mad  with  pain,  he  sprang  at  Rustem  like  a  wild  ele- 
phant, and  they  grappled  in  a  struggle  the  shock  of  which 
caused  the  very  mountains  to  tremble.  And  though  having 
but  one  foot,  the  monster  wrestled  hot  and  sore,  tearing 
from  Rustem's  body  great  morsels  of  flesh,  so  that  all  the 
earth  was  crimsoned  with  his  blood.  Indeed,  so  terrible 
was  the  struggle  that  the  hero  said  within  himself: 

"Verily,  if  I  escape  to-day,  I  shall  live  forever!" 

Howbeit,  in  spite  of  his  doubts,  Rustem  defended  himself 
mightily,  inflicting  such  terrible  injuries  upon  his  antag- 
onist that  his  mad  fury  became  as  that  of  the  raging  croco- 


Mad  with  pain,  he  sprang  at  Rustem  like  a  wild  elephant. 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  151 

dile;  while  the  mutual  havoc  wrought  caused  rivers  of  sweat 
and  blood  to  run  down  from  the  bodies  of  both  combat- 
ants. So  cool-headed  was  Rustem,  however,  and  so  telling 
every  blow,  that  the  Great  White  Deev  said  unto  himself: 
"Alas!  Alas!  Even  if  I  succeed  in  delivering  myself 
from  out  the  claws  of  this  sharp-toothed  dragon,  verily, 
I  greatly  fear  that  never  again  shall  I  see  Mazinderan!" 

Now  this  thought  nerved  anew  the  arm  of  the  mighty 
Deev,  imparting  unto  him  such  furious  strength  and  cour- 
age that  Rustem  could  not  stand  before  it.  Then  feared 
he  that  his  hour  was  come,  but  lifting  up  his  heart  unto 
Ormuzd,  and  putting  forth  all  his  strength,  suddenly  he 
caught  the  huge,  gasping  Deev  in  his  arms,  and  by  a  su- 
preme effort  hurled  him  over  the  face  of  the  cliff  into  the 
yawning  chasm  below.  Yea,  and  so  fearful  was  the  force  of 
the  fall  that  straightway  his  soul  was  driven  from  out  his 
body,  the  life-blood  oozing  from  his  crushed  and  mangled 
form,  which  had  made  of  the  valley  a  plain.  Stooping 
down,  therefore,  Rustem  severed  the  ugly  head,  fastening 
it  unto  his  saddle-bow.  Then  he  also  tore  out  the  pulse- 
less heart  which  was  destined  to  restore  sight  unto  the 
King  and  his  helpless  warriors,  and  this  being  done, 
quickly  he  returned  unto  Mazinderan. 
So, 

"The  champion  brought  the  Demon's  heart 
And  squeezed  the  blood  from  every  part, 
Which  dropped  upon  the  injured  sight, 
Made  all  things  visible  and  bright; 
One  moment  broke  that  magic  gloom, 
Which  seemed  more  dreadful  than  the  tomb." 

Now  thus  was  the  foolish  Kaikous  saved  from  perpetual 
blindness,  and  as  he  beheld  once  more  the  glories  of  the 


152  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

world,  so  great  was  his  joy,  as  well  as  that  of  his  warriors, 
that  verily  they  shouted  and  danced  like  children,  being 
unable  to  contain  themselves  for  happiness.  Yea,  seven 
days  the  Shah  and  his  warriors  feasted  together  in  thanks- 
giving, and  continually  they  exalted  Rustem,  mighty 
slayer  of  the  Great  White  Deev. 

But  the  days  of  feasting  having  passed,  behold,  there 
came  unto  the  tent  of  Rustem,  Aulad  the  guide,  and  he  said : 

"O  Champion  of  the  World!  Verily,  I  behold  upon  thy 
brow  the  crown  of  victory;  but  my  body,  alas,  beareth  the 
marks  of  thy  bonds.  Respect,  therefore,  I  pray  thee,  the 
promise  of  reward  made  unto  me.  For  a  hero  should  ever 
be  bound  by  his  word." 

Then  Rustem,  smiling,  replied  unto  the  suppliant: 

"A  faithful  guide  hast  thou  proven  thyself,  O  Aulad, 
well  worthy  of  reward;  and  verily  thou  shalt  have  it.  But 
first,  this  country  must  be  thoroughly  purged  of  the  magi- 
cians that  encumber  it,  else  uneasy  will  be  thy  seat  upon 
the  throne  of  Mazinderan,  where  surely  one  day  I  will 
place  thee.  Wherefore,  be  of  good  cheer!" 

So  now  it  came  to  pass  that  Kaikous,  after  consulting 
with  Rustem,  dictated  unto  the  King  of  Mazinderan,  the 
last  of  the  great  magicians,  a  letter.  And  he  made  not 
many  words,  but  said : 

"O  King  of  Mazinderan!  Where  is  now  the  great  chief 
Arzang?  Where  the  Great  White  Deev?  Enviest  thou 
them  their  fate?  If  not,  then  it  behooveth  thee,  O  King, 
to  appear  right  speedily  before  the  Great  Shah  Kaikous, 
to  pay  homage  and  tribute  unto  him,  else  shalt  thy  life  be 
even  as  theirs." 

Now  the  King,  when  he  received  this  communication, 
was  both  angry  and  troubled,  for  he  feared  that  the  sun  of 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS 


his  glory  was  about  to  set.  Nevertheless,  he  concealed  his 
distress  from  the  messenger,  showing  unto  him  his  vast 
resources,  and  sending  by  him  an  arrogant  answer  unto 
the  Shah.  And  he  said: 

"O  vain  Monarch,  famed  for  thy  folly,  thinkest  thou 
that  I  am  one  unto  whom  the  foolish  can  say, '  Come  down 
from  off  thy  throne,  and  do  homage  unto  me'?  Verily, 
my  hundred  war-elephants  say  unto  thee,  nay!  Prepare, 
therefore,  for  battle,  for  surely  I  will  bring  such  destruction 
upon  Iran  as  shall  cause  to  pale  the  havoc  wrought  by 
Rustem  and  thy  warriors  at  Mazinderan." 

Thus  in  his  pride  wrote  the  King  of  the  magicians  unto 
Kaikous  who,  losing  no  whit  of  the  insolence  of  the  mes- 
sage, became  very  angry  indeed.  As  for  Rustem,  when  it 
was  told  unto  him  he  was  so  indignant  that  every  hair 
upon  his  head  started  up  like  a  spear,  and  he  said: 

UO  Lord  of  the  World,  if  it  please  thee,  graciously  per- 
mit thy  Pehliva  to  go  forth  with  yet  another  writing  which 
shall  be  as  keen  as  a  sword  and  as  threatening  as  the 
giant  club  of  Saum  the  Mighty.  Perchance  the  King  may 
then  give  ear  unto  reason." 

So  once  more  the  Shah  wrote: 

"  O  King  of  Mazinderan!  Verily,  I  say  unto  thee  that  if 
within  three  days  thou  changest  not  thy  robe  of  arrogance 
for  one  of  humility,  then  truly  it  shall  be  changed  for  thee 
into  a  shroud.  Yea,  and  the  ghost  of  the  Great  White 
Deev  shall  call  the  vultures  to  feast  upon  thy  severed  head, 
hung  from  the  walls  of  thine  own  Mazinderan." 

Alas!  when  the  King  of  the  magicians  learned  that 
Kaikous  was  sending  unto  him  yet  another  messenger,  he 
bade  the  flower  of  his  army  go  forth  to  meet  him.  Then 
Rustem,  when  he  beheld  them  draw  nigh,  laid  hold  of  a 


154  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

huge  tree  with  great  spreading  branches  that  grew  by  the 
wayside,  and  twisting  it  mightily,  tore  it  from  the  earth, 
roots  and  all,  brandishing  it  in  his  hands  like  a  javelin. 
Now  all  who  witnessed  this  amazing  feat  of  strength  were 
filled  with  wonder,  and  Rustem,  beholding  their  awe, 
laughing,  flung  the  tree  among  them,  saying: 

"Greetings  from  the  great  Shah  of  Iran!" 

Then  forth  from  the  great  host  of  the  King  there  stepped 
one  of  the  giants  of  Mazinderan,  and  he  begged  to  grasp 
the  hand  of  the  mighty  one  in  congratulation.  So  Rustem 
extended  his  hand,  and  the  giant  pressed  it  mightily,  hop- 
ing thus  to  wring  off  the  valorous  member.  But  so  feeble 
was  his  grasp  that  the  champion  could  but  smile,  for  well 
he  knew  his  purpose.  When,  however,  it  came  his  turn, 
he  caught  the  giant's  hand  in  his  with  a  grip  so  mighty 
that  all  the  bones  and  sinews  cracked,  and  in  agony  he  fell 
fainting  from  his  horse. 

Now  beholding  the  fate  of  the  giant,  quickly  one  of  the 
nobles  hastened  unto  the  King  to  report  what  had  befallen 
his  champion.  Then,  mortified  and  angry,  at  once  the 
monarch  summoned  into  his  presence  his  most  valiant 
and  renowned  chieftain,  Kalour  by  name,  and  directed 
him  to  punish,  signally,  the  warrior  who  had  thus  presumed 
to  triumph  over  his  heroes.  And  he  said : 

"  Go,  O  Mighty  One,  and  show  unto  this  insolent  Per- 
sian thy  prowess.  Cover  his  face  with  shame,  and  return 
not  unto  me  until  thou  hast  retrieved  the  honor  of  the 
magicians." 

Then  Kalour,  who  was  the  strongest  Deev  of  his  tribe, 
said  proudly  unto  the  King: 

"Lord  of  the  World,  I  go.  And  verily  I  will  force  the 
tears  of  pain  from  out  the  eyes  of  this  upstart!" 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  155 

So  Kalour  rode  quickly  forth,  and  when  he  was  come 
unto  Rustem,  he  stretched  unto  him  his  mighty  hand, 
wringing  that  of  the  hero  with  the  strength  of  a  dragon. 
Now  the  hand  turned  blue  in  the  cruel  grasp,  but  Rustem 
neither  flinched  nor  gave  sign  of  pain.  But  when,  pres- 
ently, he  wrung  the  hand  of  Kalour,  behold,  blood  issued 
from  the  veins,  and  the  nails  fell  off,  dropping  unto  the 
ground  like  withered  autumn  leaves. 

Alas  for  Kalour!  Bowed  with  shame,  and  his  sight 
clouded  by  bitter  tears,  slowly  he  turned  and  rode  back 
unto  the  King,  showing  unto  him  his  hand.  And  he  said: 

"O  Glorious  King,  truly  the  path  of  humiliation  is  not 
pleasant  to  tread !  Nevertheless,  it  seemeth  unto  me  wiser 
to  make  peace  than  to  attempt  to  fight  with  this  elephant- 
of-war  whose  strength  is  such  that  neither  man  nor  Deev 
can  stand  against  him.  Pay  the  tribute,  therefore,  and 
accept  their  terms;  otherwise,  this  sharp-toothed  dragon 
will  utterly  destroy  our  land  and  people." 

Now  the  King  was  loath  to  sue  for  peace.  Nevertheless, 
when  the  Elephant-bodied  arrived  at  the  gates  the  mon- 
arch received  him  graciously.  But  alas!  having  read  the 
letter  of  Kaikous,  his  face  became  black  with  anger,  and 
verily  his  voice  was  like  rattling  thunder  as  he  said  unto 
Rustem: 

"Mad!  Stark  mad!  is  this  prating  monarch;  else  never 
would  he  dare  address  such  words  unto  me.  But  verily  he 
forgetteth  that  if  he  is  master  of  Iran,  I  am  lord  of  Mazin- 
deran,  and  never  will  I  submit  unto  so  petty  a  monarch, 
whose  only  weapon  seemeth  to  be  haughty  words.  Go, 
therefore,  and  say  unto  thy  master  that  the  King  of  Mazin- 
deran  scorneth  to  accept  peace  at  the  hands  of  a  monarch 
whose  only  crown  should  be  the  cap  and  bells  of  a  trick 


156  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

elephant.  Verily,  wax  shall  it  be  between  us  now — war  to 
the  finish!" 

So  Rustem  returned  with  this  dire  message  unto  Kai- 
kous,  and  soon  both  monarchs  were  preparing  for  battle, 
the  King  of  Mazinderan  gathering  about  him  an  army  of 
horsemen  and  foot-soldiers  and  war-elephants  which 
caused  the  earth  to  groan  as  they  marched  forth  unto  the 
meeting-place.  And  behold!  when  the  two  armies  were 
drawn  up  in  battle  array,  immediately  there  stepped  forth 
from  out  the  ranks  of  the  magicians  a  champion  who 
challenged  the  men  of  Iran  to  single  combat.  Huge,  black, 
and  ugly,  he  advanced  arrogantly,  brandishing  a  great 
club  in  his  hands,  and  he  cried  in  a  voice  of  thunder : 

"Ho,  dogs  of  Iran!  Pray,  slink  not  so  together,  but 
come  forth  and  show  whether  there  be  any  prowess  among 
you!" 

Now  at  first,  this  insolent  challenge  remained  unan- 
swered; for  the  Persians,  being  unaccustomed  to  fighting 
with  Deevs,  feared  the  giant  magician's  power  of  sorcery. 
Then  Rustem,  seeing  this,  gave  unto  Rakush  the  rein,  and 
galloping  up  to  the  King,  he  said : 

"O  Lord  of  the  World,  graciously  permit  me  to  meet 
this  arrogant  magician  that  I  may  show  unto  thy  army 
how  little  availeth  the  power  of  sorcery  when  brought  to 
bear  against  the  strong  arm  and  the  stout  heart  of  a  true 
child  of  Ormuzd." 

So,  being  given  permission,  Rustem  rode  boldly  forth, 
and  meeting  the  champion  in  full  sight  of  both  armies,  he 
thundered  forth: 

"O  Son  of  Satan!  Behold,  thy  tomb  yawneth  at  thy 
feet!  For  thy  folly  maketh  it  necessary  that  I  quickly  blot 
thy  name  from  out  the  book  of  the  living." 


RUSTEM'S  SEVEN  LABORS  157 

But  the  champion,  brandishing  his  mighty  club,  replied 
fearlessly: 

"Vain  Boaster,  flee,  for  behold,  my  club  maketh  moth- 
ers childless!" 

Howbeit,  Rustem  fled  not.  Instead,  he  advanced 
quickly,  shouting  in  a  voice  which  rivalled  that  of  the  Great 
White  Deev: 

"Tremble,  thou  Son  of  Perdition!  For  behold,  thou 
hast  now  to  do  with  Rustem  the  Mighty!" 

Now  when  the  magician  heard  this  dread  name,  at  once 
he  turned  to  flee,  for  he  had  no  desire  to  fight  the  champion 
of  the  world.  But  his  cowardice  availed  him  naught,  for 
Rustem,  raising  his  lance,  pierced  him  through  and  through 
his  coat  of  mail,  lifting  him  thus  from  his  saddle.  Then 
holding  him  poised  in  the  air  for  a  moment,  even  as  a  bird 
which  a  man  hath  run  through  with  a  spit,  suddenly  he 
dashed  him  with  contempt  lifeless  to  the  ground.  And, 
this  being  done,  slowly  he  turned,  and  rode  quietly  back 
unto  the  army,  leaving  the  Deevs  thunderstruck  at  the 
sight  of  so  much  strength  and  prowess. 

But  now  Kaikous  gave  the  signal,  and  there  began  a 
battle  the  like  of  which  hath  seldom  been  fought.  For 
seven  long  days  it  lasted,  and  what  with  the  screams  of  the 
Deevs  and  the  shouts  of  the  warriors,  the  clanging  of 
trumpets  and  the  beating  of  drums,  the  groans  of  the  dying 
and  the  screams  of  the  elephants-of-war,  earth  was  turned 
into  a  pandemonium  as  hideous  as  war  could  make  it. 
But  still  victory  leaned  unto  neither  side. 

Then  Kaikous,  fearing  defeat,  on  the  eighth  day  clothed 
himself  in  the  robes  of  humility  and  prostrated  himself 
before  Ormuzd,  beseeching  that  the  kingdom  of  light 
might  triumph  over  the  kingdom  of  darkness.  And  not  in 


158  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

vain;  for  behold!  when  evening  was  come,  the  army  of 
Mazinderan  was  a  power  no  longer  to  be  dreaded.  For  lo ! 
Death  had  waved  his  magic  sceptre  over  the  field,  and  thou- 
sands of  Deevs  lay,  as  if  enchanted,  taking  their  last  long 
sleep. 

And  now  at  last  Rustem,  who  all  day  had  been  trying 
to  pierce  unto  the  King  of  Mazinderan,  spied  the  mon- 
arch, surrounded  by  his  few  remaining  chiefs  and  a  great 
host  of  war-elephants.  Immediately,  therefore,  he  chal- 
lenged him  to  single  combat.  So  the  King  consenting,  with 
a  cry  like  a  lion's  roar,  Rustem  charged  him  with  his  spear, 
dealing  him  such  a  mighty  blow-  that  at  once  he  fell  heavily 
to  the  ground.  Quick  as  light,  however,  he  regained  his 
feet,  and  fiercely  they  fought  together,  both  with  sword 
and  javelin.  But  presently  once  more  Rustem  gained  the 
advantage.  Then  raising  his  lance  to  strike,  he  cried: 

"Perish,  Thou  Wicked  Magician!  for  little  will  thy 
sorcery  help  thee  now." 

Then  it  came  to  pass  that  Rustem  dealt  a  stroke  of  tre- 
mendous power  which  would  certainly  have  slain  the 
King;  but  behold,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  he  had 
changed  himself,  before  the  eyes  of  the  whole  Persian 
army,  into  a  great  mass  of  rock!  And  now  was  it  Rustem' s 
turn  to  marvel,  for  never  in  all  his  battles  with  the  Deevs 
had  he  witnessed  the  like.  But  at  this  moment  Kaikous 
came  up,  and  beholding  Rustem,  he  said : 

"O  Glory  of  the  Battle-field,  why  standest  thou  thus 
spellbound,  gazing  at  this  rock?" 

Then  Rustem,  awakening  from  his  astonishment,  re- 
plied unto  the  King: 

"What!  Sawest  thou  not,  O  Lord  of  Iran,  the  feat  of 
magic  but  now  performed  before  our  eyes?  Alas!  this 


RUSTEM'S   SEVEN  LABORS  159 

mighty  rock  is  the  King  of  Mazinderan  who,  fearing 
the  sword  of  Rustem,  hath  thus  put  himself  out  of  our 
power.  But  verily  he  shall  not  so  escape  me." 

Now  in  this  predicament  Kaikous  thought  a  moment; 
then  he  commanded  that  the  rock  be  taken  up  and  placed 
before  his  throne.  So  the  mighty  warriors  of  the  King  who 
were  most  noted  for  their  strength  meshed  the  mass  of 
rock  with  strong  cords,  being  unable  to  raise  it  from  the 
ground,  and  tried  to  draw  it  forward.  But  even  so,  not  all 
the  combined  strength  of  the  heroes  could  move  it  a  jot. 
Then  Rustem,  the  elephant-limbed,  determined  that  his 
prey  should  not  escape  him,  bent  his  sturdy  back,  and 
grasping  the  rock  in  his  mighty  arms,  swung  it  lightly 
unto  his  head,  where,  poising  it  easily,  without  difficulty, 
he  bore  it  across  the  plain.  There,  throwing  it  down 
before  the  King's  tent,  he  cried: 

"O  cowardly  Magician!  Verily,  if  thou  comest  not 
immediately  forth,  with  my  mace  will  I  grind  this  stone 
into  powder,  and  scatter  in  unto  the  four  winds!" 

Then  the  King  of  Mazinderan,  seeing  that  his  trick  was 
useless,  quickly  made  himself  visible,  frowning  as  black 
as  a  thunder  cloud.  But  Rustem,  smiling,  led  his  captive 
at  once  unto  the  Shah,  saying  unto  him: 

"O  Lord  of  Iran!  Behold,  I  bring  unto  thee  this  piece 
of  rock  whom  fear  of  my  mace  hath  brought  unto 
reason." 

Now  the  King  wasted  not  many  words  with  the  magician, 
for  when  he  saw  how  wicked  of  aspect  he  was,  with  the 
neck  and  tusks  of  a  wild  boar,  he  knew  him  to  be  un- 
worthy a  throne.  Therefore,  calling  unto  him  the  execu- 
tioner, he  bade  him  slay  the  evil  Deev,  cutting  his  body 
into  a  thousand  pieces. 


160  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

And  behold,  the  magicians  being  destroyed,  Kaikous, 
after  making  haste  to  secure  their  wealth,  which  was  very 
great,  distributed  honors  and  rewards  upon  every  warrior 
for  his  heroic  services,  giving  unto  Aulad  the  throne  of 
Mazinderan.  But  unto  Rustem  the  Shah  gave  gifts  the 
like  of  which  you  have  never  dreamed.  Now  there  was 
gold  and  jewels,  brocades  and  silks,  horses  and  camels, 
youths  and  maidens,  perfumes  beyond  price,  and  carvings 
of  ivory.  And  last  of  all,  there  was  a  letter,  written  upon 
pages  of  silk,  in  ink  made  of  wine  and  aloes  and  amber 
and  the  black  of  lamps,  naming  Rustem  the  Champion 
of  the  World,  and  giving  unto  him  anew  the  kingdom  of 
the  south. 

But  the  praise  and  gifts  of  the  Shah  were  as  nothing 
unto  Rustem  in  comparison  with  the  welcome  home  which 
he  received.  Now  the  whole  city  turned  out  to  meet  him, 
and  when  he  arrived  at  the  palace  such  an  ovation  was 
given  him  as  seldom  awaiteth  a  returning  hero.  And 
sweeter  than  all  unto  Rustem,  was  the  wonderful  love  and 
pride  which  beamed  upon  him  from  the  eyes  of  Silver- 
crowned  Zal  as  he  related  unto  him  the  amazing  advent- 
ures of  that  mavellous  march  into  Mazinderan. 


RUSTEM  THE  PEHLIVA 

BEHOLD,  it  is  chronicled  in  the  Book  of  the  Shahs, 
that  Kaikous  and  his  folly  parted  them  not  com- 
pany,   even    after   his   chastening   experience   at 
Mazinderan.      Consequently,    almost    immediately    after 
having  wrought  his  seven  great  labors,  once  more  Rustem 
was  called  upon  to  perform  the  services  of  a  Pehliva.    And 
of  this  you  shall  hear. 

Now  it  came  to  pass  that  Kaikous,  appropriating  unto 
himself  the  glory  which  resulted  from  the  marvellous  con- 
quest of  Mazinderan,  became  so  inflated  with  pride  that 
the  day  came  when  he  found  his  capital  too  small  for  him. 
Therefore,  he  decided  to  bless  the  eyes  of  his  people  by  a 
triumphal  journey  through  his  dominions.  So  with  a 
magnificent  train  of  warriors,  nobles,  and  slaves,  and 
with  the  music  of  trumpets  and  cymbals  and  drums,  he 
travelled  through  the  land.  And  behold!  wherever  the 
great  Shah  passed,  men  did  homage  unto  him.  For,  verily, 
the  lamb  cannot  wage  battle  with  the  lion. 

But  since  in  the  Book  of  Fate  it  is  written  that  not  even 
unto  a  gorgeous  Eastern  potentate,  with  the  world  for  his 
footstool,  can  life  remain  forever  one  long,  bright  fete  day, 
so  soon  there  sprang  forth  thorns  in  the  Shah's  fair  garden 
of  roses.  For  lo!  the  King  of  Hamaveran,  desiring  to 
throw  off  the  yoke  of  Persia,  took  this  opportunity  to  stir 
up  a  powerful  revolt  in  Syria,  which  suddenly  brought 
unto  an  end  the  vainglorious  parade  of  the  Shah. 
161 


162  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Returning  unto  his  capital,  therefore,  Kaikous  quickly 
mustered  his  army,  leading  them  forth  against  the  rebels, 
who,  after  an  obstinate  resistance,  were  overpowered  and 
obliged  to  ask  for  quarter.  Now  foremost  in  laying  down 
his  arms,  and  asking  pardon  of  the  Shah,  was  the  King  of 
Hamaveran,  unto  whom  Kaikous  granted  it  joyously.  For 
behold!  it  had  become  known  unto  him  that  behind  his 
curtains  this  King  had  hidden  a  daughter  of  rare  loveli- 
ness. As  a  condition  of  peace,  therefore,  the  Shah  de- 
manded this  Moon  of  Beauty  for  his  wife. 

Alas!  when  the  King  of  Hamaveran  learned  of  the  desire 
of  the  Shah,  his  heart  was  filled  with  bitterness,  and  he 
murmured  exceedingly  that  Kaikous,  who  had  the  world 
at  his  feet,  should  have  the  power  to  take  from  him  his  one 
treasure.  Nevertheless,  he  called  before  him  Sudaveh, 
his  fair  daughter,  and  unburdening  his  heart,  bade  her 
counsel  him  how  he  should  reply  unto  the  Lord  of  the 
World,  who  desired  her  for  his  wife.  And  he  said: 

"Fair  Pomegranate  Flower,  well  thou  knowest  that  thou 
art  my  heart's  solace  and  delight,  since  I  have  but  thee. 
In  the  garden  of  the  Shah,  however,  bloom  many  fair 
flowers.  There  thou  wilt  be  but  one,  while  here  thou  hast 
no  rival.  Now  losing  thee,  I  lose  the  light  of  my  eyes. 
Yet  how  can  I  stand  against  the  great  King  of  Kings?" 

Now  unto  this  touching  appeal,  Sudaveh,  who  was  am- 
bitious, and  unto  whom  the  thou^  ht  of  becoming  the  queen 
of  the  most  powerful  sovereign  it  the  world  was  not  at  all 
unpleasant,  replied  coldly: 

"If  there  be  no  remedy,  O  my  father,  why  not  smile  in 
the  face  of  destiny?" 

But  alas!  though  the  King  assented  to  what  he  now 
saw  were  the  wishes  of  his  daughter,  he  could  not  smile, 


RUSTEM  THE  PEHLIVA  163 

for  his  heart  was  smitten  with  sorrow.  Nevertheless,  an 
alliance  was  soon  concluded  according  to  the  forms  of  the 
land,  and  after  seven  days  of  feasting,  Sudaveh  was  sent 
unto  the  tents  of  the  Shah,  robed  in  garbs  of  splendor,  and 
accompanied  by  a  magnificent  train.  Now  the  Princess 
was  borne  upon  a  litter,  and  was  attended  by  six  hundred 
slaves,  while  as  to  her  dowry — it  required  two  thousand 
horses  and  camels  to  carry  it. 

So  went  Sudaveh  unto  the  King,  and  as  she  descended 
from  her  litter,  glowing  with  beauty,  Kaikous,  beholding 
her,  was  struck  dumb  with  admiration  and  rapture.  And 
so  impatient  was  he  to  possess  this  rare  loveliness,  that  the 
marriage  rites  were  performed  at  once,  after  which  he 
raised  Sudaveh  unto  the  throne  as  his  Queen.  Then  were 
they  glad  in  each  other,  and  wist  not  that  sorrow  knocked 
at  the  door. 

But  though  this  royal  bridal  pair  were  happy,  the  King 
of  Hamaveran,  brooding  day  by  day  over  his  wrongs  in 
his  lonely  palace,  became  more  and  more  miserable,  until 
finally  he  determined  to  try  to  regain  his  daughter  unto 
himself,  since  thus  only  would  there' be  for  him  any  joy  in 
living.  And  since  he  knew  that  only  by  stratagem  could 
he  hope  to  accomplish  his  design,  behold,  when  Sudaveh 
had  been  gone  but  seven  days,  the  King  sent  forth  an 
invitation  unto  his  new  son-in-law,  entreating  him  to 
make  glad  the  heart  of  his  father  by  feasting  within  his 
gates. 

Now  when  Sudaveh  was  informed  of  this  message,  at 
once  she  urged  her  royal  bridegroom  to  decline  the  invi- 
tation, for  she  divined  that  her  father  meant  no  good  by 
the  proposal.  But  Kaikous,  who  on  account  of  his  easy 
victory  had  formed  a  poor  opinion  of  the  courage  of  the 


164  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Syrians,  would  not  give  ear  unto  the  warnings  and  coun- 
sels of  Sudaveh,  for  his  soul  loved  feasting  and  homage, 
and  he  did  not  dream  that  the  King  would  dare,  anew,  to 
attack  the  Persians. 

Wherefore,  the  King  and  his  nobles  rode  gaily  forth 
unto  the  court  of  Hamaveran,  where  they  were  received 
most  graciously.  And  verily  the  heart  of  Kaikous  was 
glad,  for  the  banquet  was  a  royal  one,  and  behold,  they 
feasted  and  made  merry  without  ceasing  for  many  days. 
And  not  only  did  they  banquet,  but  in  his  desire  to  do 
honor  unto  his  guest,  the  King  caused  priceless  gifts  to  be 
rained  down  continuously  upon  Kaikous,  flattering  him 
with  sweet  words,  and  cozening  his  vanity.  Nor  was  his 
generosity  less  great  unto  the  nobles,  for  unto  them  also 
he  gave  gifts,  praising  their  courage  and  darkening  their 
wits  with  sweet  wine. 

But  when  at  last  the  wily  King  saw  that  all  suspicion 
and  distrust  had  been  lulled  to  sleep  by  the  bounteousness 
of  his  hospitality,  then,  like  a  flash  of  light  out  of  a  clear 
sky,  came  the  reckoning.  For  suddenly,  as  Kaikous 
reached  forth  his  hands  to  grasp  yet  richer  gifts,  in  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye,  he  and  his  chief  warriors  were  seized 
from  behind,  bound  with  strong  chains,  and  thrown  into 
the  dark  dungeon  of  a  fortress,  whose  head  touched  the 
sky  and  whose  foot  was  planted  in  the  ocean,  there  to 
repent  at  leisure  this  second  disastrous  plunge  into  folly. 

And  now  was  the  King  of  Hamaveran  glad  as,  having 
seen  his  captives  safely  hidden  away  in  the  fortress,  he  at 
once  sent  forth  a  strong  force  of  warriors  unto  the  camp 
of  Kaikous,  charging  them,  with  the  speed  of  the  swift 
dromedary,  to  return  his  heart's  delight  unto  his  arms. 
But  alas  for  the  King's  hopes!  For  beholding  the  ap- 


RUSTEM  THE  PEHLIVA  165 

proach  of  the  warriors,  and  the  veiled  women  who  accom- 
panied them,  at  once  Sudaveh  surmised  what  had  hap- 
pened, and  so  great  was  her  distress  that  she  tore  her  hair 
in  anguish,  crying  aloud  against  the  treachery  of  her 
father.  Yea,  and  not  only  that,  for  when  she  was  led  into 
his  presence,  she  reproached  him  bitterly,  swearing  that 
not  even  he  should  part  her  from  her  lord,  though  the  path 
to  him  led  but  unto  a  tomb. 

Now  as  the  King  listened  unto  the  scathing  words  of 
his  daughter,  he  shed  bitter  tears  of  disappointment  and 
anger.  Then,  furious  that  she  should  prefer  the  glory  of 
the  Shah  to  the  love  of  a  father  who  lived  but  to  serve  her, 
angrily  he  drove  her  from  his  presence,  commanding  that 
she  be  placed  in  the  same  prison  as  her  foolish  lord.  But 
this  distressed  not  Sudaveh,  who  went  to  the  dungeon 
with  a  light  heart,  for  she  loved  her  husband,  and  seated 
by  his  side,  she  served  and  comforted  him,  thus  lightening 
the  weight  of  his  captivity. 

But  alas  for  Iran!  For  once  more  the  King's  folly  left 
an  empty  throne,  which  immediately  attracted  the  ava- 
ricious eyes  of  her  foes.  And  of  these,  not  only  was  there 
the  angry  King  of  Hamaveran,  but  also  Afrasiab  who, 
hearing  that  Kaikous  was  once  more  paying  the  penalty  of 
his  follies  by  being  enchained  in  a  Syrian  dungeon,  straight- 
way forgot  hunger  and  sleep  in  his  fierce  desire  to  be  first 
upon  the  ground.  Bursting  over  the  borders,  therefore, 
with  an  immense  Tartar  horde  at  his  back,  he  defeated 
the  Syrians,  and  took  possession  of  the  land,  men,  women, 
and  children  falling  into  bondage  at  his  hands.  Then 
Iran,  the  kingdom  of  light,  became  under  his  sway,  the 
kingdom  of  darkness,  and  terror  and  distress  reigned 
throughout  the  land. 


166  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

And  now  as  ever,  in  their  troubles,  did  the  Persians 
appeal  for  counsel  and  aid  unto  the  great  house  at  Seistan; 
and  not  in  vain.  For,  though  Rustem  was  angered  at  the 
Shah  whose  folly  had  thus  once  again  endangered  the 
throne,  yet  was  he  also  grieved  for  the  vanished  glory  of 
Iran  and  for  the  distress  of  the  people.  So,  for  his  coun- 
try's sake,  and  because  of  the  oath  which  his  grandsire, 
Saum  the  hero,  sware  unto  Feridoun,  that  he  and  his 
house  would  support  and  uphold  the  glory  of  the  Shahs 
forever,  he  put  aside  his  anger,  and  forthwith  sent  a  secret 
messenger,  a  man  subtle  and  wise,  unto  Kaikous,  bidding 
him  be  of  good  cheer,  since  his  Pehliva  would  surely  de- 
liver him  from  out  the  claws  of  the  Syrian  lion. 

But  in  addition  to  this,  Rustem  sent  forth  yet  another 
messenger  unto  the  King  of  Hamaveran,  summoning  him 
to  yield  up  the  royal  prisoner  he  had  won  by  treachery, 
or  prepare  for  the  destruction  that  awaited  him  when 
Rustem  the  Mighty  should  appear  at  the  head  of  an  invin- 
cible host,  to  wreak  vengeance  upon  his  head.  Now  this 
threat  troubled  the  King  of  Hamaveran,  for  he  knew 
somewhat  of  Rustem' s  power.  Nevertheless,  he  sent  back 
reply  that  never  again  should  Kaikous  step  forth  from  his 
dungeon.  Yea,  and  he  threatened  Rustem  with  the  same 
fate,  if  he  came  forth  against  him,  which  answer  caused 
Rustem  to  smile  and  say: 

"Verily,  either  this  King  is  in  his  dotage,  or  else  the 
Evil  One  hath  filled  his  head  with  smoke.  On,  my  men! 
On  to  Hamaveran!" 

So  the  army  of  Seistan  set  forth,  and  behold,  so  mighty 
of  mien  was  Rustem,  with  his  strong  arms  and  his  lion's 
chest,  his  great  mace  and  his  redoubtable  charger,  that 
when  the  army  of  Hamaveran  caught  sight  of  him,  lo, 


RUSTEM  THE  PEHLIVA  167 

their  hearts  quickly  departed  from  out  their  bodies,  and 
they  fled  from  before  his  face  in  terror,  returning  unto  the 
King  without  having  struck  a  blow. 

Then  was  the  King  filled  with  dismay,  and  in  his  terror 
of  defeat,  at  once  he  sent  swift  runners  unto  his  neighbors, 
the  Kings  of  Egypt  and  Berber,  soliciting  their  aid — which 
being  gladly  given,  it  came  to  pass  that  three  kings  and 
their  immense  armies  were  drawn  up  against  the  power 
and  resources  of  one  man.  Indeed  so  great  was  the  com- 
bined forces  that  they  stretched  for  two  leagues  in  length, 
and  you  would  have  said  that  the  handful  of  Rustem  had 
no  chance  against  them. 

But  the  hero  was  not  dismayed.  On  the  contrary,  his 
soul  was  full  of  courage,  the  great  numbers  dismaying  him 
not,  for  he  said: 

"What  mattereth  it  even  though  there  be  a  hundred 
thousand  men  pitted  against  us?  With  Heaven  our 
friend,  soon  will  the  foe  be  mingled  with  the  dust." 

Now  having  thus  inspired  his  men,  Rustem  caused  the 
trumpets  to  sound,  and  with  a  great  shout  he  fell  upon 
the  armies  of  the  Kings,  like  unto  a  flame  that  darteth 
hungrily,  driven  by  a  fierce  wind.  And  verily  so  great  was 
the  havoc  wrought  by  Rakush  and  his  master  that  the 
ground  quickly  became  a  crimson  stream,  while  everywhere 
rolled  horrid  heads,  severed  from  the  bodies  of  the  enemy. 

But  of  all  the  chiefs,  the  King  of  Hamaveran  was  the 
first  to  fall  back  with  his  legions  before  the  sword  of  Rus- 
tem. Quickly,  however,  the  King  of  Berber  advanced  to 
fill  his  place,  for  he  was  ashamed  of  his  colleague's  cow- 
ardice. But  alas!  receiving  a  slight  blow  from  Rustem' s 
mighty  hand,  terrified,  he  turned  to  flee,  hoping  thus  to 
escape  his  fury.  But  in  vain,  for  quickly  throwing  his 


168  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

noose,  the  champion  caught  and  dragged  him  from  his 
horse,  making  him  prisoner.  And  this  being  accomplished, 
it  now  became  the  turn  of  the  King  of  Egypt  to  feel  the 
power  of  Rustem.  Before  his  charge  like  that  of  an 
angry  dragon  down  went  this  last  of  the  Kings,  and  with 
him  forty  of  his  principal  chiefs,  for  verily  against  such 
battle  fury  only  the  lion-hearted  could  hope  to  stand. 

So  ended  this  day  of  ill-fortune  for  the  King  of  Hama- 
veran,  who  beholding  at  sunset  the  overthrow  of  his 
allies,  and  all  the  horrible  carnage  wrought  by  the  cham- 
pion, knew  that  as  well  might  the  lamb  contend  with  the 
lion  as  he  with  this  sharp-fanged  dragon-of-war.  Quickly, 
therefore,  he  sent  a  swift  messenger  unto  the  great  Pehliva, 
soliciting  a  suspension  of  the  fight,  and  offering  to  deliver 
up  Kaikous,  and  all  the  men  and  treasure  that  were  his, 
if  clemency  were  shown  him. 

Now  to  this  acknowledgment  of  defeat,  Rustem  replied : 

"  Kaikous  to  liberty  restore, 
With  all  his  chiefs,  I  ask  no  more; 
For  him  alone  I  conquering  came; 
Than  him  no  other  prize  I  claim." 

So  Kaikous  was  liberated  from  his  prison,  and  Sudaveh 
with  him,  together  with  all  the  illustrious  heroes  impris- 
oned with  them  in  the  mountain  fortress.  And  so  great 
was  their  joy  that  continually  they  sang  the  praises  of 
Rustem,  the  King's  Pehliva,  who  so  quickly  had  caused 
light  to  shine  upon  a  dark  place  and  hope  to  spring  up 
where  despair  had  been.  And  not  alone  were  the  Persians 
in  extolling  their  hero,  for  behold!  the  three  Kings  were 
so  impressed  with  the  mighty  prowess  of  Rustem  that 
gladly  they  sware  a  new  allegiance  unto  the  Shah,  march- 


RUSTEM  THE  PEHLIVA  169 

ing  with  the  army  upon  its  return  journey  into  Iran,  in 
order  to  go  out  against  Afrasiab. 

And  the  army,  thus  made  strong,  behold,  when  the 
Shah  was  come  safe  home  again  unto  his  land,  he  sent 
a  message  unto  Afrasiab,  commanding  him  to  quit  the 
country  he  had  so  unjustly  invaded.  Yea,  and  he  twitted 
the  King  upon  his  previous  adventure  with  Rustem,  say- 
ing unto  him: 

"Hast  thou  forgotten  Rustem's  power, 
When  thou  wert  in  that  perilous  hour 
By  him  o'erthrown  ?    Thy  girdle  broke, 
Or  thou  hadst  felt  the  conqueror's  yoke. 
Thy  crowding  warriors  proved  thy  shield, 
They  saved  and  dragged  thee  from  the  field; 
By  them  unrescued  then,  wouldst  thou 
Have  lived  to  boast  thy  prowess  now?" 

Alas!  thus  reminded  of  past  humiliations,  Afrasiab  re- 
plied scathingly  unto  the  King,  and  he  said: 

"O  thou,  whose  folly  hath  become  a  proverb,  verily 
the  words  which  thou  hast  written  are  not  becoming  unto 
a  monarch  such  as  thou,  who  didst  covet  Mazinderan,  and 
whose  lightness  of  head  hath  twice  endangered  thy  life  and 
throne.  But  truly  thou  doest  well  to  boast  of  thy  Pehliva, 
since  without  the  Elephant-limbed  the  boasted  power  of 
Kaikous  would  cause  little  alarm  unto  his  foes.  As  for 
Rustem,  Afrasiab  feareth  him  not,  neither  that  the  sceptre 
of  Iran  will  be  wrested  from  his  grasp,  for  behold!  the 
great  Pehliva  hath  no  time  to  fight  with  heroes,  being  fully 
employed  in  extricating  his  glorious  sovereign,  the  mighty 
Kaikous,  from  the  predicaments  into  which  his  folly  ever 
leadeth  him." 


170  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Now  the  Shah's  reply  unto  this  insolent  message  was 
an  instant  call  to  war.  And,  as  it  had  been  with  the  Syri- 
ans, so  now  was  it  with  this  new  foe,  for  the  havoc  wrought 
by  Rustem  in  his  battle  fury  caused  such  terror  and  con- 
sternation that  all  the  Tartar  chiefs  fled  before  him  in 
dismay — upon  seeing  which,  the  spirit  of  Afrasiab  boiled 
over  like  unto  new  wine.  Riding  along  the  lines,  therefore, 
he  tried  to  rally  his  chiefs  for  yet  another  charge  by  fair 
'promises,  saying  unto  them: 

"  O  my  brave  Tartars,  whosoever  shall  deliver  into  my 
hands,  alive,  Rustem  the  Pehliva,  him  will  I  reward  with 
a  kingdom  and  an  umbrella.  Yea,  and  the  hand  of  my 
daughter  will  I  also  bestow  upon  him,  and  he  shall  sit  upon 
a  throne  of  splendor!" 

So,  inspired  by  these  alluring  promises,  once  more  the 
men  of  Turan  girded  themselves  for  resistance.  But  alas! 
it  availed  them  naught,  for  soon  Rustem  watered  the 
earth  with  their  blood.  Then  Afrasiab,  beholding  how 
the  breath  of  this  fierce  dragon-of-war  snuffed  out  the  life 
of  his  heroes,  himself  dashed  forward  to  cope  with  the 
champion.  But  even  his  bravery  was  unavailing,  and 
soon  he  was  glad  to  retreat,  the  remnant  of  his  army  fol- 
lowing forlornly  after  him,  leaving  Rustem  in  full  posses- 
sion of  the  field. 

Then  was  the  Shah  glad,  and  gave  thanks  unto  his 
Pehliva,  through  whose  prowess  once  more  he  was  safely 
seated  upon  the  throne  of  light.  And,  turning  his  back 
upon  folly,  for  many  moons  he  busied  himself  as  a  builder, 
erecting  mighty  towers  and  palaces,  so  that  the  whole  land 
was  made  fair  at  his  hands. 

But  alas!  in  the  midst  of  his  useful  activities,  one  day 
there  appeared  before  Kaikous  a  beautiful  youth  about 


RUSTEM  THE  PEHLIVA  171 

whose  head  was  twined  a  wreath  of  roses.  And  behold! 
after  presenting  unto  the  Lord  of  the  World  the  fair  flow- 
ers, and  extolling  the  glory  of  his  achievements,  the  youth, 
concluding,  said: 

"O  Monarch  of  the  earth  and  sea, 
Thou  art  great  as  king  can  be, 
Boundless  in  thy  majesty; 
What  is  all  this  earth  to  thee, 

All  beneath  the  sky? 
Peris,  mortals,  demons,  hear 
Thy  commanding  voice  with  fear; 
Thou  art  lord  of  all  things  here, 

But — thou  canst  not  fly! 

"That  remains  for  thee;  to  know 
Things  above,  as  things  below, 

How  the  planets  roll; 
How  the  sun  his  light  displays, 
How  the  moon  darts  forth  her  rays; 
How  the  nights  succeed  the  days; 
What  the  secret  cause  betrays, 

And  who  directs  the  whole!" 

Now  when  Kaikous  heard  these  words  of  guile,  imme- 
diately his  mind  became  filled  with  smoke,  even  as  Iblis 
had  designed,  and  forgetting  that  it  is  not  given  unto  man 
to  mount  unto  the  skies,  from  this  time  forth  he  pondered 
without  ceasing  how,  without  wings,  he  might  ascend  unto 
the  stars  to  inquire  into  their  secrets.  And  finally,  in  his 
perplexity,  he  consulted  his  astrologers,  who,  after  much 
thought,  suggested  a  possible  way  of  accomplishing  his 
desires. 

So  it  came  to  pass  that  presently  an  eagle's  nest  was 
robbed  of  its  young,  the  eaglets  being  reared  with  great 
care,  until  they  became  large  and  strong  of  wing.  Then 


172  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

a  framework  of  aloe-wood  was  prepared,  at  each  of  the 
four  corners  of  which  was  fixed,  perpendicularly,  a  javelin, 
surmounted  upon  the  point  with  the  flesh  of  a  goat.  And 
this  being  done,  the  four  young  eagles,  who  longed  for  the 
sun,  were  bound  unto  the  corners  of  this  cunningly-devised 
chariot,  and  Kaikous,  with  great  pomp,  seated  himself  in 
the  midst  thereof,  a  goblet  of  wine  in  his  hand,  while  all  the 
people  shouted,  "Bah!  Bah!"  in  admiration. 

And  behold !  the  eagles,  excited  by  the  smell  of  the  flesh 
so  pleasing  unto  them,  desired  after  it  exceedingly,  being 
hungry,  so,  with  a  mighty  flapping  of  wings,  away  they  flew 
upward,  bearing  the  aloe-wood  chariot  and  the  graciously- 
smiling  Kaikous  up,  far  up,  into  the  glorious  blue,  away 
from  the  sight  of  his  wondering  subjects.  But  alas  for  the 
eagles!  for  though  they  struggled  sore,  the  meat  was 
always  just  beyond  their  grasp.  Nevertheless,  being  con- 
tinually urged  to  new  effort  by  the  whip  of  hunger,  on 
they  swept,  ascending  higher  and  higher  into  the  clouds, 
and  conveying  the  astonished  King  far  beyond  the  borders 
of  Iran. 

But  though  the  Shah  now  became  filled  with  terror,  he 
knew  not  how  to  guide  his  novel  steeds,  and  so,  breathless, 
he  sat,  all  desire  for  new  worlds  to  conquer  forever  quenched 
in  his  quaking  breast.  And  finally  the  climax  came,  for, 
after  long  and  fruitless  exertions,  the  strength  of  the  eagles 
being  spent,  they  ceased  to  struggle.  And  lo!  as  they 
rested  on  quiet  wing,  down  from  the  sky,  like  a  pricked 
balloon,  tumbled  the  chariot  of  the  glorious  Kaikous,  and 
great  was  the  shock  thereof  as  it  kissed  the  earth. 

And  now,  indeed,  was  the  plight  of  the  presumptuous 
Shah  a  sorry  one,  for,  battered  and  bruised,  he  awoke  from 
unconsciousness  to  find  that  the  eagles  had  borne  him  unto 


And  finally,  in  his  perplexity,  he  consulted  his  astrologers. 


RUSTEM  THE   PEHLIVA  173 

the  desert  of  Cathay,  where  there  was  no  man  to  succor  him 
and  no  tender  hands  to  minister  unto  his  needs.  So  he 
suffered  hunger  and  thirst,  loneliness  and  despair;  yea, 
and  mortification  of  soul,  that  yet  again  in  his  folly  he  had 
become  a  laughing-stock  unto  his  enemies  and  a  source 
of  shame  unto  Iran.  Then  in  his  trouble  he  prayed  unto 
Ormuzd,  confessing  himself  unworthy  his  throne  and 
people,  and  continually  for  many  days  he  watered  the  desert 
with  his  tears  of  penitence. 

Meanwhile,  when  the  news  of  this  new  calamity  in 
which  Kaikous  had  wantonly  involved  himself  was  made 
known  unto  Rustem,  at  once  he  set  out  with  an  army  to 
seek  him,  but  he  was  angry  and  shamed  in  his  soul.  So 
when  the  Shah  was  brought  safely  back,  indignantly  he 
upbraided  him,  sparing  neither  words  nor  reproaches. 
And  he  said: 

"  Verily,  never  hath  the  world  seen  the  like  of  Kaikous 
for  foolishness!  One  would  say,  from  his  actions,  that  his 
head  was  void  of  all  save  wind,  and  that  a  mad-house  were 
fitter  for  his  occupancy  than  a  throne.  Now  all  her  days 
will  it  be  a  reproach  unto  Iran  that  a  King  once  sat  upon 
her  throne,  so  puffed  up  with  vanity  and  pride  that  in  his 
folly  he  mounted  into  the  sky,  thinking  to  visit  the  sun 
and  moon  and  stars,  thus  wresting  from  the  heavens  the 
secrets  of  the  Almighty.  Truly  such  mad  adventures  are 
unworthy  the  great  King  of  Kings,  whose  forefathers  ruled 
so  gloriously  and  added  such  lustre  unto  the  crown  of 
Iran!" 

And  behold!  of  all  the  faithful  service  rendered  unto 
the  great  Shah  by  his  loyal  Pehliva,  these  scathing  words 
were  far  from  the  least.  For,  listening  unto  them  with 
chastened  spirit,  the  vanity  of  Kaikous  all  evaporated, 


174  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

leaving  him  humble  and  ashamed.  Yea,  so  true  was  his 
penitence  that  when  Rustem  left  him,  for  forty  days  and 
nights  did  he  lie  in  the  dust  before  God,  shut  away  from 
the  eyes  of  men.  And  when  finally  he  seated  himself  once 
more  upon  the  throne  of  light,  verily  he  ruled  the  land 
with  wisdom,  liberality,  and  justice,  for  Kaikous  and  his 
folly  had  parted  company. 


RUSTEM'S  ROMANCE 

Listen,  my  children,  and  you  shall  hear, 
Of  the  wondrous  love  of  a  maiden  dear, 
For  a  mighty  warrior,  the  pride  of  his  day, 
Who  loved,  and  married,  and  rode  away, 
For  this  is  the  romance  of  Rustem. 

BEHOLD,  it  is  written,  that  never  in  the  Garden  of 
Kings  bloomed  there  a  fairer  flower  than  Tamineh, 
only  Princess  of  the  house  of  Samengan.  Fresh 
and  sweet  as  a  nosegay  of  lilies  and  pinks,  this  beauteous 
pomegranate  flower,  with  her  laughing  dark  eyes,  her  blue- 
black  curls,  and  her  soft,  velvety  voice  was  indeed  a  joy  to 
behold,  and  many  there  were  who  loved  her. 

But  alas!  the  Princess  was  wilful,  as  well  as  fair,  and 
so,  though  she  had  many  suitors  from  far  and  near,  she 
was  attracted  by  none  of  them.  Forlo!  her  eye  was  fixed 
and  her  heart  was  set  upon  a  bright,  particular  star,  blaz- 
ing away  with  more  than  heavenly  splendor,  in  far,  far-off 
Persia.  So,  when  her  father  would  have  married  her  unto 
this  or  that  great  Prince,  half  laughing,  half  earnest,  she 
would  say: 

"Nay,  nay,  my  father!  One  man  only  will  I  marry, 
and  that  is  Rustem,  the  hero  whose  mighty  prowess  is  ex- 
ceeded only  by  his  grandeur  of  soul." 

Now  as  it  happened,  the  King  of  Samengan  was  feuda- 
tory unto  Afrasiab,  the  deadly  enemy  of  Iran,  and  though 
the  two  countries  were  now  at  peace,  the  probability  that 
175 


176  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Rustem,  the  great  Persian  Pehliva,  would  ever  visit  the 
small  kingdom  of  Samengan,  or  even  so  much  as  hear  of 
the  beautiful  Tartar  Princess,  seemed  most  unlikely; 
therefore,  when  Tamineh  thus  spoke  of  Rustem,  the  King 
chided,  saying  unto  her: 

"Foolish  child!  Verily,  as  well  mightst  thou  cry  for  the 
moon  as  to  set  thy  heart  upon  so  distant  and  so  bright  a 
star.  For  lo!  the  southern  palm  stretcheth  forth  not  its 
arms  unto  the  northern  pine;  neither  doth  the  lion  mate 
with  the  gazelle.  Cast,  therefore,  O  Pearl  of  my  Heart, 
this  hero  from  thy  thoughts,  since  only  grief  and  pain  can 
it  bring  unto  thee,  forever  to  dream  of  the  unattainable." 

But  this  Tamineh  could  not  do,  for  Rustem  had  become 
a  part  of  her  life,  both  waking  and  dreaming,  as  you  shall 
hear.  For  it  happened  that  the  Princess  had  for  her  nurse 
a  Persian  woman,  Fatima  by  name,  who  loved  nothing  so 
well  as  to  talk  of  the  great  champion  of  her  country,  so  that 
from  childhood  up  had  the  Tartar  maiden  heard  the  won- 
der tales  of  her  hero.  Yea,  the  most  beautiful  part  of  every 
day  unto  her,  as  far  back  as  she  could  remember,  was  the 
twilight  hour,  when,  seated  at  her  nurse's  feet,  her  head 
pillowed  in  her  soft  lap,  for  hours  she  would  sit  spell- 
bound, listening  eagerly  unto  Fatima  as  she  related  the 
mighty  deeds  of  Rustem :  How,  when  only  eight  years  old, 
he  slew  the  King's  white  elephant;  of  the  capture  of  the 
magic  fortress;  of  his  wonderful  march  into  Mazinderan; 
of  Rakush;  and  of  all  his  daring  deeds  as  a  warrior. 

And  behold!  Fatima  had  also  other  things  to  relate 
of  her  hero:  tales  illustrating  his  beautiful  tenderness, 
loyalty,  and  greatness  of  soul.  And  as  the  Princess 
grew  older,  these  stories  appealed  more  to  her  than  the 
wonder  tales  or  the  deeds  of  prowess;  but  all  was  listened 


RUSTEM'S  ROMANCE  177 

to  with  eagerness  and  delight  by  the  infatuated  Tamineh, 
who,  thus  fed  upon  romance,  grew  into  a  tall,  beautiful 
maiden  with  never  a  thought  for  any  man  save  Rustem 
the  Mighty. 

But  though  it  seemed  most  unlikely  that  the  Princess 
would  ever  behold  her  hero,  lo!  it  was  written  in  the  stars 
to  the  contrary.  And  that  which  is  written,  shall  it  not 
surely  come  to  pass?  So,  at  least,  believe  the  Persians, 
and  so  happened  it  unto  Rustem  and  Tamineh. 

For  presently  it  came  to  pass  that  upon  a  certain  morn- 
ing Rustem,  in  far-away  Persia,  awoke  from  his  slumbers 
unrefreshed,  after  a  restless  night  of  dreaming.  Conclud- 
ing, therefore,  that  his  muscles  were  in  need  of  exercise, 
there  being  no  enemies  to  fight,  the  hero  resolved  to  go  off 
upon  a  long  hunting  trip.  So,  filling  his  quiver  with  arrows, 
he  saddled  Rakush,  and  set  out  for  the  beautiful  wilds  that 
border  upon  Turan. 

Now,  arrived  at  the  hunting-ground,  Rustem  found 
good  sport,  for  the  plain  was  covered  with  great  herds  of 
wild  asses  that  roamed  at  will  from  the  sullen  grandeur  of 
the  uplands  to  the  fairer  vales  below.  Setting  spurs  to 
Rakush,  therefore,  gaily  the  hero  pursued  them  through 
wood  and  glen,  and  often  did  his  quivering  darts  pierce 
the  glossy  skin  of  the  dangerous  game.  Yea,  and  oft  too, 
did  his  lengthy  lasso  unfurl,  ring  upon  ring,  snaring  the 
wily  beasts  for  his  club.  So  long  he  hunted,  until  finally, 
night  drawing  on,  he  said  unto  Rakush: 

"Enough,  My  Beauty,  enough!  for  to-morrow  will  be 
another  day." 

So,  his  hunting  done,  straightway  the  hero  proceeded  to 
light  a  great  fire.  Then,  making  a  young  tree  serve  as  a 
spit,  he  ran  it  through  the  body  of  a  nice  fat  gor,  hung  it 


178  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

over  the  fire,  and  roasted  it  for  his  meal.  And  behold, 
being  deliciously  done,  hungrily  he  tore  it  joint  from  joint, 
ate  of  it  his  fill,  and  broke  the  bones  for  the  marrow. 
Then,  tired  with  his  long  day's  sport,  the  weary  hunter 
sought  the  shade  of  a  thicket,  and  lay  down  to  sleep, 
fanned  by  the  plumes  of  the  glorious  palms  above  his  head, 
and  lulled  to  rest  by  the  cooing  doves  and  sunbirds  that 
fluttered  through  their  swinging  crowns.  Yea,  and 
watched  over  by  faithful  Rakush  who  wandered  never  far 
from  his  sleeping  master. 

Now  while  Rustem  peacefully  slept,  the  hand  of  Fate 
was  busy  weaving  into  the  pattern  of  his  life  some  new 
threads.  For,  on  this  eventful  day,  a  traveller  on  his  way 
to  Samengan  had  beheld  the  Mighty  One  hunting.  So  it 
came  to  pass  that  having  arrived  at  the  court,  he  told  the 
astonishing  news,  which  spread  until  it  reached  the  ears 
of  Fatima,  who  at  once  rushed  to  inform  her  young  mis- 
tress. Now  at  first,  Tamineh,  upon  hearing  this  story, 
was  incredulous,  but  having  summoned  the  traveller  into 
her  presence,  her  doubts  were  soon  dispelled,  for  he 
said: 

"Gracious  Princess!  Behold,  as  I  crossed  the  great  salt 
plains  upon  the  border  of  the  kingdom  this  day,  I  encoun- 
tered a  solitary  huntsman,  mounted  upon  a  magnificent 
charger,  and  towering  in  his  saddle  like  a  giant  among 
men.  More  like  unto  a  god  than  mortal  man,  surely  this 
could  have  been  no  other  than  Rustem,  the  Champion  of 
the  World,  and  his  famous  war-horse  Rakush;  for  verily 
there  exist  not  two  such  mighty  heroes  in  the  world! 
— of  that  I  am  certain." 

Thus  spake  the  traveller,  and  being  dismissed,  Fatima, 
all  excitement,  cried  eagerly  unto  her  mistress: 


RUSTEM'S  ROMANCE  179 

"O  Rose  of  the  World,  rejoice!  for  behold,  thy  hero 
draweth  near,  and  yet  thine  eyes  may  be  gladdened  by  his 
coming !  For  surely  no  man  could  see  the  Mighty  Rustem 
and  mistake  him  for  another,  since  as  the  traveller  sayeth, 
in  all  the  world  there  are  no  two  such;  nay,  nor  methinks 
in  heaven  either!" 

Now  hearing  these  words,  the  heart  of  Tamineh  leaped 
and  rejoiced  like  unto  that  of  a  gay  singing-bird,  as,  em- 
bracing Fatima,  she  exclaimed  joyously,  her  soft,  dark 
eyes  shining  like  stars: 

" Fatima,  Old  Dragon!  Listen  and  admire.  For,  be- 
hold, thy  Bright  Pomegranate  Flower  hath  determined 
to  gaze  upon  this  glorious  Persian  Sun,  and  if  it  withereth 
all  her  gay  petals!  and  the  stars  decree  that  thou  must 
help  her." 

But  Fatima,  hearing  these  words,  quickly  repented  of 
her  impetuosity,  for  right  well  she  knew  the  wilfulness  of 
her  mistress,  and  she  feared  unto  what  it  might  lead. 
Therefore  she  replied  unto  Tamineh: 

"Pearl  of  my  Heart!  be  not  foolish;  for  how  is  it  possi- 
ble for  thee  to  accomplish  the  desire  of  thy  heart?  The 
great  Rustem  is  travelling  north,  and  it  is  not  probable, 
either  that  he  will  visit  our  Court,  or  delay  his  journey. 
How  then  canst  thou  hope  to  see  him?" 

Now  thus  questioned,  for  a  time  Tamineh  was  silent. 
But,  being  a  young  woman  of  some  resource,  she  was  not 
to  be  dismayed  by  obstacles  which  might  have  deterred 
smaller  souls,  for  had  she  not  all  her  life  been  hoping 
against  hope  for  just  this  opportunity?  And  now  that  it 
had  come,  was  she  to  sit  quietly  down,  allowing  it  to  pass 
by  unimproved?  Verily,  nay!  For  some  minutes,  how- 
ever, the  Princess  did  sit  down,  thinking  hard.  But  pres- 


180  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

ently,  springing  gaily  to  her  feet,  a  mischievous  light 
sparkling  and  dancing  in  her  wonderful  dark  eyes,  she 
cried : 

"Kiss  me,  Fatima,  kiss  me!  for  verily  thou  beholdest 
before  thee  the  happiest  Princess  in  the  whole,  wide  world. 
Soon  I  shall  see,  and  perhaps  win  the  hero  of  my  dreams, 
and  thou,  too,  methinks  will  rejoice  once  more  to  behold 
thy  country's  champion.  Now  let  not  thine  eyes  pop  out 
of  thy  head,  Old  Dragon;  neither  be  thou  dismayed,  for 
I  shall  not  go  forth  unto  the  great  Rustem,  but  he  shall 
come  unto  me.  For,  look  you!  the  plan  is  quite  simple, 
since  Jwe  have  only  to  take  captive  Rakush,  when  the 
hero  will  come  quickly  enough  to  recover  his  glorious 
steed." 

Alas!  the  proposition  of  stealing  Rakush  was  unto 
Fatima  as  daring  and  awful  an  idea  as  the  thought  of 
stealing  Rustem  himself,  but  realizing  that  it  was  useless 
to  oppose  her  young  mistress,  she  replied  not,  save  by  a 
deep  groan. 

Ignoring  the  groan,  however,  the  Princess  continued : 

"Listen  now,  my  dear  old  Fatima,  for  verily  the  plot 
is  a  famous  one!  But  it  must  be  carried  out  to-night,  be- 
fore Rustem  hath  departed,  else  will  it  be  too  late.  Now 
methinks  that  not  by  strength  but  by  stratagem  must 
Rakush  the  terrible  be  captured.  Therefore,  when  dark- 
ness covereth  the  land  to-night,  we  will  send  forth  six  wily 
herdsmen,  mounted  upon  light,  swift  horses,  spurring  them 
on  to  the  enterprise  by  offering  them  princely  rewards  if 
successful.  They  must  be,  of  course,  men  expert  with  the 
lasso,  and  they  must  entrap,  without  harming,  Rakush 
while  Rustem  sleeps,  returning  with  him  unto  the  royal 
stables  before  dawn." 


RUSTEM'S  ROMANCE  181 

Thus  elaborated  Tamineh  her  plan  unto  Fatima,  who, 
relieved  that  it  threatened  no  danger  to  the  Princess, 
nevertheless  protested  loudly,  tearing  her  hair  and  clothes, 
weeping  and  lamenting  bitterly.  But  of  course  she  ended 
by  doing  the  will  of  her  mistress,  as  did  also  the  men 
chosen,  for  well  they  knew  that  any  service  faithfully  per- 
formed would  be  liberally  rewarded  by  the  Princess 
Tamineh. 

Meanwhile,  little  dreamed  the  mighty  Rustem,  as  he 
soundly  slept  on  his  bed  of  moss  that  night,  after  his  famous 
day's  hunting,  of  the  filmy  web  that  this  bright-eyed  Prin- 
cess was  securely  weaving  about  him.  Yea,  and  even  intel- 
ligent Rakush,  though  he  slept  not,  little  suspected  that  for 
long  seven  dark  figures  had  stealthily  stalked  him  through 
the  night.  For  the  Tartar  warriors  who  followed  him, 
knowing  quite  well  that  no  easy  task  was  involved  in  carry- 
ing out  the  commands  of  their  Princess,  proceeded  most 
cautiously. 

Finally,  however,  advancing  stealthily,  the  seven  clever 
ones  tried  to  take  their  prize,  unawares,  by  throwing  a 
lasso  over  his  head.  But  in  vain;  for  the  noise  of  the  un- 
coiling lariat  piercing  unto  the  ear  of  Rakush,  dexterously 
he  avoided  the  cruel  cord,  standing  with  ears  alert  and 
pawing  feet  of  anger.  Now  for  a  second  thus  he  stood; 
then  having  located  his  enemy,  like  a  lion  he  sprang  upon 
them,  striking  two  of  the  foe  dead  with  a  single  stroke  of 
his  forefeet,  and  savagely  biting  off  the  head  of  a  third. 
Thus  three  of  the  company  were  safely  disposed  of,  and 
the  brave  Rakush  was  not  yet  taken.  Nor  would  he  have 
been;  for  never  yet  had  man  or  Demon  entrapped  or  over- 
come the  glorious  steed;  but  for  the  sake  of  the  beautiful 
Princess,  the  stars  decreed  it.  So  presently,  after  a  hard 


182  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

fight,  the  four  succeeded  in  entangling  him  with  their 
lassos,  and  thus  it  came  to  pass  that  just  before  the  day 
dawned  the  proud  war-horse  of  Rustem  was  led,  gagged 
and  blindfolded,  into  the  stables  of  the  King  of  Samengan. 

And  behold,  when  the  Princess  Tamineh  from  her  bal- 
cony at  last  beheld  the  famous  war-horse  loom  up  along 
the  shadowy  road,  so  great  was  her  joy  that,  regardless  of 
the  fact  that  Rakush  was  tossing  his  head,  stamping  his 
hoofs,  and  snorting  protests  like  an  angry  dragon,  she 
would  have  flown  down  to  welcome  him  with  soft  caress, 
had  not  the  faithful  Fatima  urged  that  such  a  step  might 
undo  all  that  had  been  accomplished. 

But  though  the  dawn  brought  joy  unto  Tamineh,  its 
message  unto  Rustem  was  that  of  sorrow.  For  behold! 
when  he  called  unto  Rakush  no  answering  neigh  rang  out 
the  glad  reply.  Thinking,  however,  that  his  steed  had 
perhaps  but  strayed  beyond  the  sound  of  his  first  gentle 
call,  the  hero  quickly  came  out  into  the  open,  calling  unto 
Rakush  in  a  voice  of  thunder;  but  still  there  came  no 
answer.  Then  was  the  heart  of  the  Mighty  One  troubled, 
for  well  he  knew  that  his  faithful  steed  had  not  willingly 
strayed  away.  Now  in  his  dismay  he  said  unto  himself: 

"What  a  dilemma!  for  now  must  I  go  on  foot,  carrying 
my  quiver  and  my  great  club,  this  heavy  helmet  and  coat 
of  mail,  and  my  life-destroying  sword.  And  seeing  me 
thus,  how  the  Tartars  will  scoff,  saying  among  themselves: 
'Behold  the  Mighty  Rustem!  While  he  slept,  some  one 
must  have  stolen  his  horse!'  Now  thus  shall  I  be  put  to 
shame  before  my  enemies,  that  which  never  yet  hath  hap- 
pened unto  Rustem." 

Thus  communing  with  himself,  busily  the  hero  searched 
for  some  trace  of  his  missing  steed,  and  not  in  vain. 


RUSTEM'S  ROMANCE  183 

for  at  last  he  detected  the  footprints  of  a  scuffle  down 
by  the  stream  that  murmured  at  the  foot  of  the  shady 
glen.  Here  great  hoof-marks  pointed  out  the  field  of 
battle,  the  ground  being  ploughed  up  upon  all  sides,  indi- 
cating how  desperately  the  mighty  steed  had  resisted  his 
wily  captors.  Then  farther  on  could  be  traced  the  steps 
of  Rakush  between  two  other  horses,  closely  followed  by 
a  third,  which  plainly  said  unto  Rustem  that  his  faithful 
companion  had  been  stolen. 

And  now,  boiling  over  with  rage  and  sorrow,  the  heart 
of  Rustem  beat  to  but  one  refrain:  Vengeance!  Vengeance 
upon  the  captors  of  Rakush!  Pausing  not,  however, 
quickly  he  followed  the  traces  of  his  horse's  hoofs,  and  lo! 
they  led  him  unto  the  gates  of  Samengan.  Then  Rustem, 
perceiving  whither  the  footprints  led,  sware  unto  Heaven 
a  great  oath,  and  he  said: 

"  By  the  sun  and  moon  and  stars,  I  swear  that  if  aught 
of  harm  hath  come  unto  Rakush  through  this  King  or  his 
people,  verily  the  thief  shall  pay  for  it  with  his  head!" 

Meanwhile,  knowing  naught  of  the  capture  of  Rakush,  as 
Rustem  approached  the  shining  turrets  of  the  city,  great 
was  the  astonishment  of  the  King  and  those  about  him 
when  they  beheld  the  manner  of  his  coming.  Nevertheless, 
they  hurried  forth  to  greet  their  distinguished  guest,  the 
King  saying  unto  him: 

"O  glorious  Pehliva,  never  hath  Samengan  been  so 
honored  in  a  guest,  and  lo!  her  King  sayeth  unto  thee, 
'Welcome.'  But  how  happeneth  it  that  the  mighty  Rustem 
cometh  unto  us  afoot  and  unattended?  If  misfortune 
hath  befallen,  behold!  we  are  all  at  thy  service!" 

But  unto  this  courteous  greeting  Rustem  replied  coldly, 
relating  briefly  unto  the  King  all  that  had  come  to  pass. 


184  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Then  becoming  more  angry  as  he  talked,  once  more  the 
hero  sware  that  many  heads  should  quit  their  trunks  if 
his  charger  were  not  returned  unto  him  right  speedily, 
void  of  harm. 

Then  the  King,  seeing  that  Rustem  was  beside  himself 
with  anger,  spake  words  of  comfort  unto  the  hero,  for  he 
knew  how  dear  unto  him  was  his  glorious  steed.  And  he  said : 

"O  Hero  of  Heroes!  Be  not  so  disturbed  in  thy  spirit, 
for  verily  anger  profiteth  nothing.  It  is  by  charming  that 
one  lureth  the  serpent  from  hie  hole.  As  for  Rakush, 

If  still  within  the  limits  of  my  reign, 
The  well-known  courser  shall  be  thine  again. 
For  Rakush  never  can  remain  concealed 
No  more  than  Rustem  on  the  battle-field. 

"Take  courage,  therefore,  and  be  of  good  cheer,  for  soon 
thy  glorious  other  self  shall  be  restored  unto  thee,  and  all 
will  be  well.  As  for  the  thief,  when  detected  he  shall  be 
placed  in  thy  hands,  to  slay  or  to  spare,  according  to  thy 
good  pleasure.  But  as  for  Rustem ! — for  this  one  night,  at 
least,  he  must  tarry  at  Samengan  as  our  honored  guest." 

So,  being  satisfied  with  these  promises,  Rustem  put 
away  all  suspicion  from  his  mind,  and  became  the  King's 
guest.  Then  all  day  they  feasted  and  made  merry,  beguil- 
ing the  hours  with  wine  and  sweet  words.  Nor  could  the 
King  sufficiently  honor  his  guest,  though  he  encompassed 
him  with  music  and  song,  and  waited  upon  him  with  his 
own  hands,  as  though  he  were  his  slave.  And  behold! 
when  night  was  fallen  the  monarch  himself  led  Rustem 
unto  a  couch  perfumed  with  musk  and  roses,  bidding  him 
slumber  peacefully  until  morning,  when  he  should  again 
be  made  glad  in  Rakush,  his  steed. 


RUSTEM'S  ROMANCE  185 

Now  thus  delightfully  couched,  Rustem  slept  dream- 
lessly  until  the  star  of  morning  stood  high  in  the  arch  of 
heaven.  Then  suddenly  there  fell  upon  his  ear  the  mur- 
mur of  soft  womanly  voices  which  caused  the  hero  to 
start  up  in  confused  amazement.  Seeing  nothing,  however, 
he  closed  his  eyes  again,  for  he  thought  that  he  had 
dreamed. 

But  though  his  conclusion  was  natural,  the  hero  dreamed 
not,  for  presently  the  heavy  curtains  were  drawn  softly 
aside,  and  there  stepped  within  the  chamber  a  slave  bear- 
ing a  lamp  perfumed  with  amber.  And  following  after, 
her  veil  but  half  concealing  her  lovely  face,  Rustem  beheld 
the  fairest  maiden  his  eyes  had  ever  gazed  upon.  Now 
for  a  moment  the  lovely  vision  lingered  upon  the  threshold, 
poised  like  a  frightened  bird  for  hasty  flight,  the  rich 
color  suffusing  her  olive  cheek,  her  dark  eyes  beaming 
beneath  their  splendid  lashes,  and  her  pomegranate 
mouth,  flower-soft  and  sensitive,  slightly  parted.  Then 
gaining  courage,  slowly  she  advanced  toward  the  hero, 
and  as  she  moved,  fragrance  was  scattered  from  her  robes, 
and  her  long  black  ringlets,  musk-perfumed,  seemed  unto 
Rustem  as  fateful  as  the  warrior's  kamund.  Yet,  though 
enchanted,  the  warrior  sighed,  for  again  he  thought  he  but 
dreamed. 

But  even  as  he  would  have  settled  himself  once  more 
unto  slumber,  behold,  like  music  upon  his  ear  fell  the  soft 
voice  of  Tamineh,  bidding  Fatima  retire  to  the  distant 
window.  Now  this  fully  awoke  the  young  warrior,  who, 
springing  quickly  from  his  couch,  gazed  in  astonished 
delight  at  his  enchanting  visitor.  Then  Tamineh  spoke 
in  the  soft,  velvety  tones  she  could  use  so  effectively  when 
she  chose.  And  she  said : 


186  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

"My  Lord  Rustem,  thou  beholdest  before  thee  the 
Princess  Tamineh,  daughter  of  the  King,  and  she  hath 
come  thus  into  thy  presence  because  the  need  is  urgent. 
For  she  would  crave  thy  pardon  for  a  great  wrong  which 
she  hath  done  unto  thee,  and  which,  she  heareth,  carrieth 
with  it  a  fearful  penalty." 

Now  amazed  at  this  most  surprising  confession  poured 
forth  from  tempting  lips,  moulded  for  love's  recompense 
alone,  for  a  second  the  valiant  Rustem  was  silenced  by 
the  wonder  and  unexpectedness  of  it  all.  Quickly  recov- 
ering himself,  however,  he  replied  unto  the  maiden : 

"Thou,  Fair  Princess!  Thou  hast  done  me  a  wrong? 
Truly,  I  know  not  what  wrong  thou  canst  have  done  me, 
unless  it  be  the  mischief  wrought  by  thy  bright  eyes  since 
they  have  shone  so  radiantly  upon  me.  It  is  true,  my  heart 
whispers  unto  me  that  thy  wondrous  beauty  hath  caught 
me  in  its  snare,  but  if  that  be  thy  sin,  it  carrieth  with  it  a 
delightful  penalty — one  which  thou  needst  not  fear." 

Now  this  reply,  so  unlike  that  of  a  mighty  warrior,  caused 
a  roguish  smile  to  play  about  the  fascinating  lips  of  the 
Princess  Tamineh,  who,  casting  upon  the  speaker  one 
bright,  admiring  glance  from  her  sparkling  eyes,  then 
modestly  dropped  them,  replying  demurely  unto  this  gal- 
lant speech: 

"Who  knoweth,  My  Lord,  but  that,  perchance,  I  would 
gladly  add  that  theft  unto  the  other!  But  greatly  I  fear 
that  thou  wilt  consider  my  first  offence  the  greater.  For  it 
was  I,  and  none  other,  who  had  stolen  from  thee  Rakush, 
thy  steed  of  battle,  who  even  now  slumbereth  peacefully  in 
the  royal  stables." 

So  spake  Tamineh,  and  though,  as  we  know,  her  words 
were  true,  yet  was  it  long  before  she  could  persuade  the 


RUSTEM'S  ROMANCE  187 

master  of  Rakush  that  she  did  not  jest.  When  she  finally 
convinced  him,  however,  so  great  was  his  joy  in  knowing 
Rakush  safe  and  unharmed,  that,  behold,  he  forgot  to  be 
angry  with  the  thief.  But,  after  all,  who  could  blame  him  ? 
for  the  thief  was  very  fair,  and  she  confessed  with  a  voice 
that  rivalled  the  magic  notes  of  the  bulbul  chanting  unto 
his  mate.  And  besides,  the  master  of  Rakush  had  it  in  his 
heart  to  ask  a  great  boon  of  the  Princess,  and  this  time  he 
remembered  that  not  by  anger,  but  by  charming,  one 
lureth  a  bird  from  the  bush.  So,  smiling,  he  said  unto 
Tamineh: 

"Fair  Princess,  behold,  thou  standest  before  thy  judge, 
convicted  of  two  serious  crimes.  Two  conditions  must 
thou  fulfil,  therefore,  if  thou  wouldst  obtain  thy  pardon. 
First,  the  judge  must  be  allowed  to  gaze  upon  the  face  of 
the  fair  culprit,  else  how  can  he  administer  suitable  pun- 
ishment? And  second,  he  must  be  informed  as  to  the 
motive  of  the  theft,  for  that  puzzle  hath  yet  to  be  unrav- 
elled." 

Now  at  this  embarrassing  sentence,  the  lovely  Tamineh 
stood  silent  before  her  judge,  looking  indeed  like  a  culprit 
fostering  half  a  desire  to  flee.  But  presently,  rallying  her 
forces,  she  replied  bravely  unto  the  Mighty  One,  though 
her  soft  voice  trembled  and  she  looked  not  up: 

"  My  Lord  Rust  em,  though  news  unto  thee — since  thou 
art  a  mighty  warrior — I  suppose  it  is  yet  true  that  every 
maiden  hath  her  hero.  Now  it  is  owing  to  Fatima,  there, 
who  is  a  Persian,  that  I  have  mine:  a  hero  of  whose  fame 
and  valorous  deeds  I  have  dreamed  my  life  long,  whose 
like  ne'er  was  and  ne'er  will  be  again,  whose  glory  reach- 
eth  even  unto  the  stars.  And  thou  must  know  also,  O 
Mighty  One,  that  every  maiden  longeth  to  gaze  upon  the 


188  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

face  of  the  only  hero  in  the  world  for  her.  That  is  why  I 
stole  thy  horse.  And  now,  since  thou  knowest  my  utmost 
guilt,  findest  thou  my  crime  too  great  for  pardon?" 

But  unto  this  plea,  for  some  minutes,  Rustem  replied 
not,  for  persistently  his  heart  kept  singing:  "The  only 
hero  in  the  world  for  her!  The  only  hero  in  the  world  for 
her!"  Now  praise  was  no  new  thing  unto  the  Champion 
of  the  World,  but  never  before  had  it  been  offered  with 
such  subtle  charm.  And  besides,  with  joy  the  warrior 
recognized  that  here  was  a  spirit  akin  unto  his  own  in  its 
dauntlessness  and  longings  after  the  best.  Drawing  near 
unto  the  Princess,  therefore,  "The  Only  Hero  in  the 
World"  said  unto  her  softly: 

"Fair  Pomegranate  Flower,  one  of  the  conditions, 
truly,  thou  hast  fulfilled;  but  the  other  must  be  met  also; 
for  verily  my  eyes  are  hungry  for  full  sight  of  lips  that  can 
murmur  words  so  sweet  to  hear!" 

But  the  Princess,  drawing  closer  the  long  white  veil 
which  half  concealed  her  face,  stepped  quickly  back,  say- 
ing proudly  unto  the  eager  Rustem: 

"Nay,  nay,  my  Lord!  That  is  a  privilege  I  grant  only 
unto  the  rn^n  who  weddeth  me." 

Now  saying  this,  slowly  the  Princess  moved  toward  the 
curtains,  as  though  she  would  go.  But  Rustem,  detaining 
her,  cried  out  impetuously: 

"O  Pearl  among  Women,  stay!  for  verily  my  heart 
hath  wakened  and  calleth  unto  thee  for  its  mate.  Only 
consent,  therefore,  and  to-morrow  will  we  be  wed." 

But,  though  these  words  sounded  unto  Tamineh  like 
a  paean  of  victory,  she  received  them  coldly;  for  well  she 
knew  that  no  man — least  of  all  a  warrior — careth  for  what 
he  can  win  too  easily.  And  then  it  was  that  Rustem,  in 


RUSTEM'S  ROMANCE 


whom  contradiction  ever  roused  a  fiery  purpose  to  obtain 
his  will,  vowed  again  and  yet  again  that  he  could  not  live 
without  her;  that  he  would  wed  but  her,  and  that  before 
the  morrow's  sun  had  set;  that  from  henceforth  honor 
and  praise  and  glory  would  be  as  ashes  unto  his  lips, 
unless  shared  with  his  Moon  of  Beauty. 

So  now,  having  thus  aroused  desire,  softly  the  Princess 
drew  aside  her  veil.  Then  before  the  enraptured  Rustem 
had  wakened  to  the  danger,  like  a  gay  humming-bird, 
swiftly  away  she  flew,  leaving  in  his  hands  her  veil,  which 
he  in  his  eagerness  had  seized  lest  she  hide  that  lovely 
face  again  too  soon.  And  as  she  fled,  like  chimes  of  bells 
there  floated  back  the  sound  of  merry  laughter,  which 
but  fanned  the  flame  glowing  already  so  brightly  in  the 
awakened  heart  of  the  hero  left  gazing  so  ruefully  upon 
love's  only  token — the  dainty,  fragrant,  cruel  film  of  lace. 
Now  regarding  it  tenderly,  the  warrior  smiled  and  said: 

''Behold,  the  gay  young  Singing-bird  hath  flown,  leaving 
her  pretty  wing  in  the  too  rough  hand  of  her  captor!  But, 
by  the  sun  and  moon  and  stars,  I  swear  that  yet  shall  she 
be  mine,  for  mighty  in  love  shall  Rustem  be  as  well  as  in 
deeds  of  valor." 

Consequently,  when  morning  dawned,  and  the  hero  once 
more  beheld  the  King,  ceremoniously  he  asked  Tamineh's 
hand  in  marriage.  Yea,  and  the  monarch  of  Samengan 
listened  unto  him  gladly,  for  was  it  not  Rustem  the  Mighty 
who  sued!  And  did  he  not  know  but  too  well  the  heart  of 
his  Moon  of  Beauty!  So  that  very  day  was  the  marriage 
bower  crowned  with  roses  and  decked  with  white  lilies, 
while  the  royal  abode  was  flooded  with  music  and  sun- 
shine to  grace  the  glad  wedding  of  the  Princess  Tamineh. 
And  when  all  was  over,  verily  it  seemed  unto  Rustem  and 


190  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

his  pretty  Singing-bird  as  if  the  world,  like  some  vast  tidal 
wave,  had  rolled  away,  leaving  them  alone  with  their  hap- 
piness upon  the  golden  shores  of  the  Land  of  Delight. 

Now  thus  it  was  that  Tamineh,  Princess  of  Samengan, 
obtained  her  heart's  desire.  And  behold!  for  one  bright 
summer  month  she  tasted  such  happiness  as  is  seldom 
vouchsafed,  even  unto  the  children  of  Ormuzd.  Wander- 
ing in  the  myrtle  groves,  or  strolling  together  in  the  shady 
forest,  the  Princess  now  heard  from  the  hero's  own  lips 
marvellous  tales  of  adventure,  and,  the  days  passed  for 
both  like  a  happy  dream.  But  alas!  In  the  Book  of  Fate 
it  is  written  that  pure  happiness  is  not  for  mortals,  and  so, 
when  one  bright  moon  had  run  her  course,  relentlessly 
sorrow — joy's  sombre  twin — invaded  this  Land  of  De- 
light. 

And  behold!  not  suddenly,  but  with  stealth,  the  invader 
drew  nigh,  attacking  first  the  hero  of  battles.  For  grad- 
ually Rustem  became  restless,  and  impatient  with  his  life 
of  inactivity,  longing  intensely  for  the  excitement  of  war- 
fare and  adventure  to  which  he  was  accustomed  and  for 
which  he  was  formed.  For  alas!  Nature,  in  giving  unto 
him  his  giant  frame  and  mighty  muscles,  his  valorous 
heart,  and  his  soul  that  joyed,  above  all  else,  in  battle,  had 
planned  and  destined  the  mighty  son  of  Zal  to  shine 
through  all  the  ages — not  as  a  lover,  but  as  the  type  of 
the  perfect  warrior. 

Now  slowly  this  truth  was  brought  home  unto  Tamineh, 
as  she  noted  the  ever-increasing  restlessness  of  her  hero, 
which  even  she  could  not  always  still,  though  she  knew 
that  he  loved  her  tenderly.  And  though  she  spake  not  of 
it,  her  heart  became  burdened  with  sorrow,  for  she  knew 
that  the  time  was  now  not  far  off  when  Rustem  would  go 


The  days  passed  for  both  like  a  happy  dream. 


RUSTEM'S  ROMANCE  191 

back  unto  his  own  people  and  life,  perhaps  forgetting  her 
in  the  more  powerful  attractions  of  war,  while  she  must 
needs  love  him  forever. 

And  alas!  Tamineh  was  right  in  her  surmise,  for  it 
needed  only  the  rumor  that  war  had  again  broken  out  in 
Persia  to  cause  Rustem  to  buckle  on  his  sword  and  armor 
with  joy  at  the  prospect  of  battle.  Then  hastily  seeking 
the  King,  he  said  unto  him: 

"  O  Royal  Cypress,  long  have  I  rested  in  the  shade  of  thy 
glorious  land,  but  now  I  must  say  unto  it  farewell.  For 
behold !  duty  calleth  me  back  unto  Iran,  and  it  is  well,  for 
verily  my  sword  hath  rusted  too  long  in  its  scabbard,  and 
Rakush  neigheth  with  longing  to  bear  me  once  more  in 
the  thick  of  the  fight." 

Now  having  thus  spoken,  the  hero  opened  his  arms  and 
took  unto  his  heart  Tamineh,  the  Peri-faced,  bathing  her 
cheeks  with  tears  and  covering  her  hair  and  eyes  with 
kisses;  also  he  whispered  unto  his  Singing-bird  sweet 
words  of  enchantment.  But  alas  for  Tamineh!  Clinging 
unto  the  neck  of  her  hero,  bitterly  she  wept,  crying  unto 
her  beloved: 

"O  Light  of  my  Life!  I  fear  that  thou  goest  from  me 
forever,  and  how  shall  I  live  without  thee?" 

But,  kissing  away  her  tears,  Rustem  spake  unto  Tami- 
neh brave  words  of  comfort,  telling  her  that  he  would 
surely  return  unto  her  when  his  fighting  was  over,  laden 
with  fresh  laurels  to  lay  at  her  feet.  And  he  bade  her  be 
strong  and  dauntless  of  spirit,  as  was  seemly  for  a  war- 
rior's bride,  since  even  for  this  was  it  that  he  loved  her. 
And  last  of  all,  taking  from  off  his  arm  an  onyx  bracelet, 
upon  which  was  engraved  the  image  of  a  Simurgh,  he 
gave  it  unto  Tamineh,  saying: 


192  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

"Pearl  of  my  Heart,  listen!  If  while  I  am  away,  God 
should  send  unto  us  a  daughter,  fasten  this  amulet  under 
her  curls.  If,  however,  a  son  should  be  sent  to  gladden 
our  hearts,  then  let  him  wear  it  upon  his  arm,  as  his 
father  hath  worn  it,  for  it  will  protect  him  from  the  powers 
of  evil,  being  the  badge  of  Rustem  and  of  Zal." 

Now  having  thus  spoken,  hastily  Rustem  threw  himself 
upon  the  back  of  Rakush,  and  the  wind-footed  bare  him 
swiftly  away  from  out  the  sight  of  Tamineh,  unto  whom 
the  world  suddenly  became  dark,  so  blinded  were  her 
eyes  with  tears. 

Then  with  leaden  feet  passed  the  days  for  the  Princess 
Tamineh.  Howbeit,  as  time  passed  on,  news  came  from 
the  Mighty  Rustem  of  fresh  victories,  together  with  a  present 
of  three  great  rubies  of  priceless  value  and  three  wedges 
of  finest  gold.  But  alas!  the  letter  said 'no  word  of  the 
hero's  return,  only  of  more  battles  and  victories  to  come. 
And  Tamineh,  reading  between  the  lines,  sighed  bitterly, 
taking  no  pleasure  in  the  rubies  and  gold. 

But  a  great  joy  was  in  store  for  Tamineh,  for  one  night 
as  she  sat  sorrowfully  upon  her  balcony,  suddenly  she 
heard  a  flutter  of  mighty  wings,  and  behold,  there  was 
dropped  into  her  lap  a  priceless  treasure — a  babe  whose 
mouth  was  rilled  with  smiles,  and  who  in  feature  resembled 
his  glorious  sire.  Then  was  Tamineh  comforted,  and  be- 
cause of  his  smiles  she  called  her  babe  Sohrab,  which 
meaneth  Sunshine, 


SOHRAB  THE  YOUTH 

NOW  if  we  are  to  believe  what  the  old  chronicles  tell 
us,  never,  I  suppose,  since  the  world  began  was 
there  born  a  more  lovable  babe  than  Sohrab,  the 
son  of  Rustem.    When  he  came  unto  his  mother,  behold, 
his  eyes  and  mouth  were  still  alight  with  the  sunshine  of 
Paradise,  and,  instead  of  crying,  he  kicked  and  crowed 
with  delight,  trying  thus  to  say  unto  Tamineh  that  he  was 
glad  to  leave  even  the  Garden  of  the  Blessed  to  come  unto 
her. 

And  truly  the  babe  was  a  joy  to  behold !  for  in  addition 
to  all  the  gay  loveliness  of  Rustem' s  bright  Singing-bird, 
from  his  illustrious  father  he  had  inherited  the  splendid 
physique  of  the  noble  house  of  Zal.  Following  after  Rus- 
tem, too,  he  grew  so  rapidly  that  when  he  was  a  month  old 
he  had  the  limbs  of  a  yearling  child;  at  three  years  he 
learned  exercises  of  arms;  at  five  he  was  bold  as  a  lion; 
and  at  ten  there  was  not  a  hero  in  the  whole  country  who 
dared  wrestle  with  him. 

So,  practising  all  the  exercises  of  an  athlete  and  a  war- 
rior, the  boy  grew  up  tall,  dark,  and  straight  as  a  young 
cypress,  with  limbs  like  unto  an  elephant,  heart  bold  as 
a  lion's,  and  his  foot  as  swift  as  that  of  the  wild  stag;  yet 
withal,  so  simple,  gay,  generous,  and  lovable,  that  from 
his  proud  grandsire,  the  King  of  Samengan,  down  to  the 
meanest  subject  in  the  realm,  he  was  admired  and  adored 
by  all — while  as  for  his  mother,  unto  her  he  was  the  very 
breath  of  life,  filling  every  sleeping  and  waking  thought. 
193 


194  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Now  Sohrab  had  inherited  from  Tamineh  one  trait 
which  drew  them  very  close  together.  For  behold!  what- 
ever the  day's  occupation,  and  no  matter  what  else  tempted, 
at  the  evening  hour  the  boy  always  sought  his  mother  upon 
the  balcony,  where,  seated  at  her  feet,  his  bright  head  pil- 
lowed in  her  lap,  he  spent  the  happiest  hour  of  his  day 
listening  unto  the  marvellous  hero  tales  that  poured  like 
magic  from  her  lips.  For  Tamineh,  wishing  her  boy  to 
be  steeped  in  the  legends  of  his  father's  land,  gladly  re- 
lated unto  him  the  wonder  tales  of  the  Persians,  all  of 
which  found  an  answering  echo  in  the  eager  young  soul 
of  her  listener.  For  verily  Sohrab  could  not  have  been 
the  son  of  Rustem  without  longing  for  battle  and  adventure. 

And  of  course  in  all  these  stories  the  Hero  of  Heroes  was 
Rustem  the  Mighty,  unto  whom  the  fair  narrator  did  full 
justice.  For  Tamineh  loved  "The  Only  Hero  in  the 
World  for  her!"  still,  though  he  had  never  returned  unto 
her;  and  so,  as  her  hand  strayed  in  mute  caress  through 
the  thick,  dark  locks  of  Sohrab — who  was,  alas,  love's 
only  legacy  unto  her! — she  told  of  all  the  Champion's 
wondrous  deeds  of  valor  with  such  fire  and  passion  that 
the  cheeks  of  both  glowed  with  the  tremendous  stress  of  it. 
Yea,  and  Sohrab  never  wearied  of  these  tales,  begging  to 
have  them  repeated  again  and  again;  and,  as  a  conse- 
quence, he  grew  up  with  the  thought  that  never  had 
the  world  known  such  a  mighty  Pehliva  as  Rustem  the 
Persian. 

And  Rakush,  too,  delighted  the  boy's  soul — Rakush 
the  dauntless  who  carried  the  great  hero  of  his  country  so 
gallantly  through  the  thickest  of  the  fight;  Rakush  the 
lion-slayer;  Rakush  who  neighed  for  joy  at  the  battle's 
roar;  Rakush  who  feared  neither  man,  nor  dragon,  nor 


SOHRAB  THE  YOUTH  195 

Deev;  Rakush  the  gentle,  who  loved  to  eat  sugar  from  his 
master's  hand. 

Now  listening  unto  all  these  inspiring  tales,  Sohrab  de- 
termined deep  in  his  soul  that  one  day  he,  too,  would  be 
a  great  hero — yea,  even  the  Champion  of  the  World,  as 
Rustem,  leading  his  armies  on  to  victory,  and  performing 
such  deeds  of  valor  as  should  bring  fame  and  glory  unto 
Turan,  his  land,  and  pride  unto  the  heart  of  his  mother, 
whose  cheek — he  promised  himself — should  flush  one  day 
as  she  related  his  brave  deeds,  even  as  now  when  she  spoke 
of  Rustem,  the  Hero  of  Heroes.  For  did  he  not  intend 
that  the  name  "Sohrab"  should  go  ringing  down  the  ages 
as  the  symbol  of  courage,  generosity,  loyalty,  high  en- 
deavor, and  chivalrous  deeds?  Yea,  he  would  try  hard; 
then,  perhaps,  one  day  the  great  Rustem  might  hear  of 
him,  and  it  might  even  happen  that  he  would  meet  him 
face  to  face. 

Thus  the  lad  dreamed,  not  knowing  that  Rustem  was  his 
sire,  for  Tamineh  had  not  revealed  unto  him  his  lineage. 
And  alas!  neither  was  it  known  unto  Rustem  that  God 
had  blessed  him  with  a  noble  son.  For,  at  the  birth  of 
Sohrab,  the  gentle  mother,  fearing  that  if  the  truth  became 
known  unto  the  great  Persian  chieftain,  at  once  he  would 
send  and  take  the  boy  from  her  to  train  him  up  as  a  soldier 
to  fight  against  her  country,  had  sent  word  by  a  messenger 
who  travelled  unto  Persia  that  a  little  daughter  had  been 
born  unto  him  in  Samengan.  And  behold!  so  little  were 
daughters  prized  in  the  East  at  that  time  that  Rustem 
never  asked  to  see  the  child,  and  so  remained  in  ignorance 
as  to  Sohrab. 

For,  although  the  years  passed,  Rustem  was  so  busy 
fighting,  that  he  never  came  back  unto  Samengan.  But 


196  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

for  Sohrab,  therefore,  the  whole  episode  would  have  seemed 
unto  Tamineh  as  naught  but  a  blissful  dream.  In  her 
beautiful,  high-spirited  boy,  however,  the  Princess  was 
consoled,  for  she  knew  that  in  him  she  possessed  forever 
the  best  of  Rustem — the  hero's  heart,  the  dauntless  spirit, 
the  enduring  soul — that  which  she  had  most  loved  in  her 
hero.  So  gradually  the  warm,  living  presence  of  dreamy- 
eyed  Sohrab,  whose  arms  loved  to  linger  round  his  moth- 
er's neck,  caused  Tamineh  to  think  of  Rustem  as  a  glorious 
warrior,  but  also  as  quite  apart  from  her  life. 

Nevertheless,  the  Great  Pehliva  was  the  tie  that  bound 
this  mother  and  son  so  closely  together — for  was  he  not 
the  ideal  of  each?  And  often — yea,  very  often! — the  wish 
sprang  up  in  the  heart  of  Tamineh  that  Rustem  might 
behold  his  glorious  son.  But  alas!  when  she  remembered 
that  as  a  consequence,  her  boy  might  be  taken  from  her, 
her  heart  grew  weak  and  she  held  her  peace. 

So  the  years  passed  by,  bringing  naught  but  joy  unto 
Sohrab,  until  he  was  grown  into  a  strong,  manly,  coura- 
geous youth  of  seventeen,  who  could  ride,  joust,  tilt,  hunt, 
and  use  both  sword  and  spear  better  than  any  warrior  in 
the  whole  kingdom  of  Samengan.  Then  one  day  he  sought 
his  mother,  saying  unto  her: 

"Mother,  think  it  not  strange,  but  I  care  not  for  a  won- 
der-tale to-night;  for  much  I  have  been  thinking  lately, 
and  this  once  I  would  question  thee  of  other  things.  And 
first,  thou  must  know  that  but  to-day  Piran-Wisa  hath 
told  unto  me  that  in  the  arts  of  war  and  of  prowess  he 
can  teach  me  no  more.  So  now  I  would  hear  of  my  race  and 
lineage.  Now  of  course  I  know  that  I  am  nobly  born,  for  I 
feel  it  in  all  my  being;  but  what  shall  I  say  unto  men  when 
they  ask  me  the  name  of  my  sire  ?  for  verily  I  know  it  not." 


SOHRAB  THE  YOUTH  197 

Now  hearing  these  words  of  spirit,  Tamineh  smiled, 
because  that  his  fire  and  pride  were  like  unto  that  of  his 
father;  but  she  sighed  also,  for  she  scented  in  these  words 
of  manhood  the  loss  of  her  boy.  Nevertheless,  disguising 
her  sorrow,  she  replied  gaily  unto  Sohrab  and  she  said: 

"So  thou  art  tired  of  thy  mother's  wonder  stories,  art 
thou?  And  desirest  to  speak  of  other  things!  Ah,  but 
one  more  tale  must  thou  hear,  my  Stately  Young  Cypress 
— one  that  I  have  been  saving  for  thee  right  jealously  for 
many  days;  one  that  will  be  unto  thine  ears  sweeter  than 
the  song  of  yonder  bulbul  as  he  chanteth  so  entrancingly 
unto  his  mate.  Nay,  do  not  kiss  me  now,  but  cuddle  down 
close  to  my  side,  and  listen  unto  thy  mother's  love  song. 
It  will  not  detain  thee  long ! 

"Well,  once  upon  a  time  in  the  glorious  spring-time  of 
the  world,  Ormuzd  the  Blessed,  in  the  fair  gardens  of  Para- 
dise, conceived  in  his  heart  the  thought  of  fashioning  and 
sending  forth  into  the  world  a  hero  who  should  be  mightier 
and  more  illustrious  than  any  of  the  sons  of  men.  So,  long 
he  thought,  and  shaped,  and  wrought,  for  he  planned  a 
perfect  hero,  and  his  task  was  not  easy.  But  finally,  the 
beautiful  Peri  of  Paradise  having  kissed  dimples  into  the 
soft  skin  of  the  babe,  curl  into  his  hair,  and  the  pome- 
granate bloom  into  his  cheeks, — even  as  they  must  have 
done  unto  thee,  O  Beauteous  One,  before  they  sent  thee 
forth  unto  me — all  was  pronounced  finished,  and  the 
Blessed  One  smiled  at  his  work,  pronouncing  it  good,  for 
behold,  in  this  wondrous  creation,  not  a  thing  was  there 
that  marred,  all  bearing  the  stamp  of  perfection. 

"Now  they  loved  this  babe  in  Paradise,  and  so  it  lingered 
there  awhile.  But,  since  not  for  this  was  it  created,  at 
last,  reluctantly,  the  Blessed  Ormuzd,  summoning  unto 


198  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

him  the  Wondrous  Bird  of  God,  tucked  the  laughing  little 
one  safely  under  her  golden  feathers,  and  sent  it  forth, 
bidding  the  tender  mother-bird  carry  her  treasure  safely 
unto  the  house  of  White-haired  Zal,  in  Persia. 

"Ah,  now  my  Young  Cypress  raiseth  high  his  head, 
and  I  perceive  that  he  hath  guessed  the  name  of  my  hero! 
But  listen,  for  my  tale  is  but  just  begun! 

"And  alas!  it  runneth  not  now  so  pleasantly,  for  Iblis, 
who  hateth  perfection,  even  as  he  hateth  Ormuzd  the 
Blessed,  beholding  this  wondrous  babe,  in  its  cradle  mur- 
mured over  it  vile  words  of  magic.  And  having  wrought 
his  spell,  maliciously  he  smiled,  and  said : 

" '  Behold,  now  art  thou  perfect  no  longer,  though  thou 
appearest  the  same.  And  though  a  mighty  warrior  thou 
shalt  be,  truly,  a  heavy  price  shalt  thou  pay.  For  behold! 
all  the  days  of  thy  life  the  tender  joys  of  the  heart  shall  be 
little  known  unto  thee,  though  thy  deeds  shall  be  glorious! ' 

"Now  this  explaineth  perfectly,  doth  it  not?  why  thy 
great  hero,  Rustem,  joyeth  above  all  else  in  the  roar  and 
tumult  of  battle.  It  may  also  whisper  unto  thy  heart  other 
things,  even  as  it  hath  unto  thy  mother,  whose  hero  is  also 
thy  hero,  and  whose  deeds  of  valor  thrilled  her  maiden 
heart  even  as  they  now  call  forth  such  responsive  echo  in 
thine  own. 

"But  though  thine  ear  hath  been  delighted  with  many 
an  adventure  of  Rustem,  thou  hast  yet  to  hear,  methinks, 
of  a  certain  great  hunting  expedition  upon  which  the  hero 
lost  his  horse,  but  won  a  bride.  For,  be  it  known  unto 
thee,  my  Sun-kissed  Cypress,  that  a  certain  wicked  Prin- 
cess of  Samengan,  Tamineh  by  name,  in  order  to  behold 
the  face  of  her  hero,  audaciously  caused  the  redoubtable 
Rakush  to  be  stolen,  thus  luring  the  mighty  Rustem  unto 


SOHRAB  THE  YOUTH  199 

the  Court,  where  for  one  happy  month  the  love  of  his 
lady  succeeded  in  blotting  out  from  his  heart  all  desire  for 
battle  and  bloodshed.  Then,  alas,  War,  the  true  mistress 
of  his  life,  once  more  regained  her  dominion!  And  so, 
seventeen  long  years  ago,  he  bade  good-by  to  his  gay 
young  Singing-bird,  and  never  again  hath  he  returned 
unto  Samengan. 

"But  though  her  hero  returned  not,  behold,  the  Princess 
was  not  left  comfortless.  For  Ormuzd  the  Blessed,  who 
ever  keepeth  a  watchful  eye  upon  his  own,  beholding  the 
sad  heart  of  the  forsaken  one,  unperceived  of  Iblis,  once 
more  fashioned  a  perfect  hero  and  sent  him  forth,  this 
time  unto  the  house  of  Tamineh.  Now  this  beautiful 
babe  seemed  made  of  the  essence  of  sunshine,  and  so,  soon 
it  came  to  pass  that  unto  the  lonely  Princess  he  became 
the  very  light  of  her  eyes  and  the  joy  of  her  life;  yea,  the 
very  breath  of  her  heart!  for  whom  had  she  beside? 

"And  so  the  wonder  tale  reveal eth  that  the  proud 
Young  Cypress,  who  gazeth  with  such  shining  eyes  into 
those  of  his  mother,  is  the  noble  shoot  of  a  mighty  tree 
whose  shadow  extendeth  over  the  earth,  and  whose  fame 
shall  be  sung  by  the  Children  of  Ormuzd  as  long  as  the 
world  lasts. 

"And  now,  the  tale  being  finished,  if  the  promising  Hero 
of  Noble  Race  will  graciously  raise  his  fair  head,  not  unto 
the  stars,  but  unto  his  mother's  lips,  much  she  would  like 
to  greet  him! — ere  the  word  is  of  other  things." 

Now  thus  it  was  that  Tamineh  told  unto  Sohrab  the 
story  of  her  love,  and  having  revealed  unto  him  all  things 
concerning  his  father,  she  charged  him  to  keep  secret 
what  he  had  heard,  lest  Afrasiab,  the  enemy  of  Rustem, 
should  slay  the  son  because  of  the  father,  or  lest  Rustem 


200  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

should  send  for  his  son,  thus  bringing  grief  unto  the  heart 
of  his  mother. 

But  Sohrab,  in  the  pride  of  his  youth,  with  flashing  eyes 
and  uplifted  head,  replied  proudly  unto  his  mother.  And 
he  said: 

"  O  Pearl  among  Mothers,  verily  my  heart  telleth  me  that 
this  is  a  secret  that  cannot  long  remain  known  unto  but 
two!  For  doth  not  the  fame  of  Rustem,  my  noble  father, 
even  now  nil  the  whole  world  with  glory  ?  And  am  not  I 
his  son?  And  shall  not  the  son  of  Rustem  also  be  glori- 
ous? Verily,  thou  mayest  not  think  it,  since  as  yet  I  am 
only  a  youth,  but,  mother,  there  is  that  within  me  which 
whispereth  that  one  day  I,  too,  shall  do  valiant  deeds! 
Yea,  and  the  day  is  not  now  far  distant.  For  listen, 
O  my  mother! 

"  Soon  will  I  put  myself  at  the  head  of  an  innumerable 
army  of  Tartars,  and  with  them  to  aid  me  it  will  not  take 
long  to  deprive  that  foolish  Kaikous  of  his  head  and 
throne;  for  verily  he  is  not  fit  to  rule  over  a  great  country 
like  Persia!  Then  will  I  place  upon  the  throne  of  light 
the  true  monarch  of  Iran,  even  Rustem  the  Mighty.  And 
behold!  this  being  done,  my  father  and  I  will,  together, 
make  war  against  Afrasiab,  and  I  will  possess  myself  of 
his  throne.  For,  since  Rustem  is  my  father  and  I  am  his 
son,  verily  I  will  not  suffer  that  there  be  any  Kings  in  the 
world  but  him  and  me!  For  unto  us  belong  the  crowns  of 
might.  And  dost  thou  know  what  thou  wilt  be  then,  O 
my  Glorious  Mother?  Why,  Queen  of  the  whole  world! 
And  when  that  day  shall  come,  as  it  surely  will,  then  thy 
cheek  shall  flush  with  pride  not  only  for  the  Mighty  Rus- 
tem, but  also  for  Sohrab,  thy  son.  For,  having  subdued 
the  wicked  and  the  foolish,  with  wisdom  and  gentleness 


SOHRAB  THE  YOUTH  201 

will  we  reign,  so  that  all  the  world  shall  be  glad  because  of 
the  house  of  Zal." 

Now  taking  the  ardent  young  speaker  in  her  arms, 
Tamineh  kissed  his  flushed  cheeks  and  bright  eyes  again 
and  again  for  answer,  realizing  with  sorrow  that  the  time 
was  nigh  when  she  must  let  her  bold  young  eaglet  go  forth 
to  try  his  wings.  But  though  her  heart  was  heavy,  she 
spake  brave  words  of  wisdom  unto  Sohrab,  promising  that 
when  the  time  came  for  him  to  go  forth,  she  herself 
would  buckle  on  his  sword. 

So  all  was  yet  well  in  the  house  of  Tamineh.  But  lo! 
that  night  the  Angel  Serosch,  in  her  sevenfold  flight 
around  the  world,  beheld  Sohrab's  youth  vanish  from  him 
forever,  leaving  in  its  place  an  aspiring  hero,  whose  one 
desire  was  to  behold  the  face  of  his  glorious  sire  and  to 
perform  brave  deeds  like  unto  his. 


SOHRAB  AND  THE  WARRIOR 
MAIDEN 

BEHOLD!  among  the  many  legends  of  Sohrab,  the 
son  of  Rustem,  it  is  chronicled  that  with  no  one 
was  he  a  greater  favorite  than  with  the  famous 
Tartar  general,  old  Piran-Wisa.    And  his  interest  in  the 
child  manifested  itself  in  a  practical  way,  for  whenever  he 
came  unto  Samengan,  he  put  the  lad  through  military 
exercises,  teaching  him  thus  the  tactics  of  war. 

Now  at  the  time  when  Sohrab  learned  of  his  lineage  the 
Kurds  and  Tartars  were  carrying  on  a  fierce  war  against 
the  Persians,  and  so  eager  was  he  now  to  acquire  experi- 
ence in  battle,  that  finally  he  persuaded  Piran-Wisa  to 
secure  him  a  command  in  the  army  of  Afrasiab.  And  this 
was  not  difficult  of  accomplishment,  for  already  had  the 
fame  of  the  great  strength,  and  skill,  and  bravery  of  Sohrab 
pierced  unto  the  ears  of  the  King,  who  gladly  accepted  his 
services,  scenting  in  him  a  mighty  champion,  later  on,  for 
his  army. 

So,  having  received  his  commission,  Sohrab  knelt  before 
his  grandfather,  the  King  of  Samengan,  promising  to  keep 
untarnished  the  sword  and  shield  which  that  monarch  had 
presented  unto  his  grandson,  as  his  first  gift  of  manhood. 
And  the  King  blessed  the  youth,  giving  unto  him  also  the 
noblest  charger  in  the  royal  stables.  Then  Tamineh 
buckled  on  his  sword,  and  bound  about  his  wrist  the  amu- 
202 


SOHRAB  AND  THE  WARRIOR  MAIDEN    203 

let  of  the  house  of  Zal,  speaking  naught  but  brave  words 
unto  her  son.  And  so,  proud  and  happy,  they  sent  him  forth. 

After  this,  it  is  recorded  that  brave  Sohrab  fought  in 
many  battles,  conducting  himself  with  so  much  wisdom  and 
valor  that  all  men  spake  his  praise.  But  notwithstanding 
his  victories  and  growing.fame,  the  youth  was  not  content. 
For,  in  the  thick  of  battle,  as  in  his  quiet  hours  of  dream- 
ing, one  great  wish  ever  possessed  his  soul — to  meet  his 
father,  the  Mighty  Rustem,  face  to  face,  and  win  his  word 
of  praise. 

So,  pondering  ever  his  great  desire,  Sohrab  knew  no 
peace  until  finally  he  decided  to  go  in  search  of  his  father; 
and  having  arrived  at  this  decision,  straightway  he  sought 
out  his  grandsire,  beseeching  his  counsel  and  aid.  Now 
the  King  of  Samengan,  rejoicing  in  the  courage  and  prow- 
ess of  Sohrab,  having  listened  unto  his  desire,  quickly 
opened  unto  him  the  doors  of  his  treasury,  pouring  forth 
gold  without  stint,  for  he  loved  the  boy  tenderly.  And  as 
a  sign  of  his  good  pleasure,  he  also,  at  this  time,  invested 
his  grandson  with  all  the  honors  of  a  King. 

As  for  Tamineh,  beholding  that  her  son's  charger  now 
quivered  beneath  his  weight,  quickly  she  commanded  the 
guardians  of  the  herd  that  they  lead  forth  all  the  royal 
horses  before  Sohrab  that  he  might  choose  him  a  war- 
steed  worthy  this  glorious  enterprise.  But  alas!  one  and 
all  bowed  themselves  beneath  his  weight,  even  as  they  had 
when  tested  by  the  Mighty  Rustem,  when  he  chose  his 
steed  of  battle.  But  presently  there  came  before  Sohrab 
one  who  told  of  a  beautiful  foal — sprung  from  Rustem's 
glorious  Rakush  —  clean-limbed,  strong,  and  beautiful, 
which,  having  tested,  Sohrab  declared  perfect.  In  his 
joy,  therefore,  he  cried  out  gaily  unto  his  mother: 


204  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

"Fair  Queen  of  the  World!  Behold,  the  brave  sons  of 
Rustem  and  of  Rakush  crave  thy  blessing  ere  they  go 
forth  in  search  of  laurels  and  a  sunny  crown  to  grace  thy 
glorious  tresses — one  of  which  thy  hero  craveth  that  he 
may  seem  in  truth  to  carry  thee  ever  near  his  heart." 

Alas!  Tamineh,  as  she  gazed  at  her  splendid  son,  longed 
neither  for  laurels  nor  a  crown,  but  only  to  joy  in  his  glori- 
ous presence  forever — for  such  is  the  way  of  mothers. 
Nevertheless,  meeting  banter  with  banter,  graciously  she 
allowed  that  one  dark  lock  be  severed  from  her  abundant 
tresses,  and  she  smiled  as  she  noted  the  admiration  and 
love  exhibited  by  the  nobles  and  warriors  who  flocked  so 
gladly  to  Sohrab's  standard.  Yea,  and  deep  in  her  heart 
she  longed  to  be  a  youth  that  she,  too,  might  follow  this 
glorious  young  leader,  watching  over  his  safety  in  the 
capacity  of  devoted  body-guard. 

And  well  if  this  might  have  been!  for,  though  Tamineh 
suspected  it  not,  on  this  expedition,  much  Sohrab  was  to 
need  the  offices  of  a  wise,  devoted,  and  loyal  companion, 
since  he  had  enemies  who,  even  as  he  recruited  his  army, 
were  plotting  his  destruction.  Indeed  yes,  and  of  these 
Afrasiab  was  the  instigator,  for  upon  hearing  the  news  of 
Sohrab's  intention,  straightway  he  called  unto  him  Human 
and  Barman,  two  of  his  most  doughty  chieftains,  and  said 
unto  them: 

"  O  my  Pehliva,  listen  unto  my  voice,  for  verily  I  have 
a  plan  which  shall  rid  us  of  all  our  enemies.  For  behold! 
it  is  known  unto  me  that  Sohrab  is  sprung  from  that  great 
disturber  of  our  progress,  Rustem  the  Mighty,  who  sus- 
pecteth  not  that  he  hath  a  son.  It  must  be  hidden  from 
him,  therefore,  who  it  is  that  cometh  out  against  him,  for 
these  two  champions  will  surely  meet  in  battle,  and  it  may 


SOHRAB  AND  THE  WARRIOR  MAIDEN    205 

be  that  the  young  lion  will  kill  the  old  one.  Now  if  that 
shall  come  to  pass,  behold,  Iran,  devoid  of  Rustem,  will 
fall  an  easy  prey  into  our  hands;  and  when  that  shall  have 
happened,  it  will  be  an  easy  matter  to  take  Sohrab  by 
stratagem  and  slay  him.  If,  on  the  other  hand,  however, 
Rustem  should  slay  his  son,  then  would  his  heart  be  de- 
voured with  grief,  so  that  he  would  trouble  his  enemies  no 
more." 

So  spake  Afrasiab  unto  his  chiefs,  and  having  poured 
out  all  his  guile,  he  bade  them  quickly  gather  together 
a  great  army  to  join  the  ranks  of  Sohrab,  and  depart  unto 
Samengan.  And  behold,  they  bare  with  them  gifts  of 
great  price  to  set  before  the  face  of  Sohrab,  and  they 
carried  unto  him  also  a  letter  from  the  King,  filled  with 
words  of  honey.  And  the  letter  said : 

"O  Glorious  Stripling,  whose  equal  existeth  not  in  all 
the  world,  behold,  the  King  laudeth  thy  valorous  resolve 
to  bring  Iran  unto  thy  feet,  and  he  sendeth  unto  thee 
a  mighty  army  that  right  speedily  Turan,  Iran,  and  Samen- 
gan may  be  one  land,  and  all  the  world  at  peace." 

So  Sohrab,  thus  encouraged  by  the  King,  and  unsus- 
picious of  his  guile,  caused  the  cymbals  of  departure  to  be 
sounded,  and  the  army  set  forth  upon  its  tour  of  conquest. 
Now  the  track  of  this  youthful  conqueror  was  marked  by 
desolation  and  destruction,  but  behold,  he  marched  on 
unstayed  until  he  was  come  unto  the  White  Fortress, 
which  was  the  key  to  the  heart  of  Persia. 

Now  the  governor  of  this  stronghold  was  Gustahem  the 
brave,  an  old  and  famous  warrior,  but  now,  alas,  so  feeble 
that  he  could  assist  in  the  defence  of  the  fort  only  by  his 
counsel.  He  had  under  him,  however,  a  young  captain, 
Hujir  by  name,  who  was  known  unto  the  enemy  as  a  very 


206  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

brave  and  powerful  champion,  so  the  White  Castle  was 
considered  impregnable.  Believing  themselves  to  be  se- 
cure, therefore,  when  Hujir  beheld  from  afar  a  dark  cloud 
of  armed  men,  with  gallant  Sohrab  at  their  head,  imme- 
diately he  donned  his  armor  and  rushed  forward  to  chal- 
lenge him,  crying  arrogantly: 

"Halt,  thou  Stripling!  for  if  thou  venturest  one  step 
nearer,  verily  I  will  lop  off  that  towering  head  of  thine, 
and  give  thy  soft,  baby  flesh  unto  yon  hungry  vultures  for 
food." 

But  behold!  this  fierce  menace  deterred  not  for  a  single 
second  the  onward  course  of  Sohrab,  who,  hesitating  not, 
boldly  charged  the  champion,  quickly  o'ercoming  him. 
For,  though  Hujir  fought  bravely,  in  the  hands  of  Rustem's 
mighty  son  he  was  naught  but  an  infant.  Seeing  himself 
at  the  mercy  of  the  invader,  therefore,  humbly  the  van- 
quished hero  begged  for  quarter,  and  Sohrab,  who  was 
young  and  tender  of  heart,  granted  unto  his  adversary  his 
life,  binding  him  with  cords  and  sending  him  captive  unto 
Human. 

Howbeit,  though  successful  in  this  encounter,  Sohrab  was 
to  face  another  adversary  upon  this  eventful  day — one  pow- 
erful in  a  fashion  of  which  he  dreamed  not.  For  behold,  it 
is  chronicled  that  in  the  Fort  there  also  dwelt  the  lovely 
daughter  of  Gustahem,  a  war-like  maid,  skilled  in  athletic 
sports,  and  famed  for  her  exploits  in  many  a  battle.  Now 
the  name  of  the  maiden  was  Gurdafrid,  and  beholding  the 
overthrow  of  Hujir,  her  heart  was  filled  with  anger  and 
shame. 

So,  filled  with  fury,  quickly  the  warrior-maiden  clothed 
herself  in  burnished  mail,  hiding  her  glorious  tresses  under 
an  iron  helmet.  Then,  mounting  her  fiery  steed,  she  rode 


SOHRAB  AND  THE  WARRIOR  MAIDEN    207 

boldly  forth  from  out  the  gates  of  the  White  Castle, 
fiercely  challenging  the  enemy  to  produce  a  champion 
worthy  to  meet  her  in  combat,  that  thus  the  fate  of  the 
Fort  might  be  decided. 

But  behold!  none  answered  the  challenge,  for  all 
thought  that  they  gazed  upon  a  mighty  warrior,  not  know- 
ing that  the  burnished  steel  hid  naught  but  a  woman  with 
quickly-beating  heart.  Seeing  that  none  of  his  warriors 
desired  to  take  up  the  challenge,  therefore,  once  more 
gallant  Sohrab  stepped  gayly  forth,  crying: 

"  Methinks  I  see  before  me  another  wild  ass  for  my  lasso. 
Come  forward,  Puny  One,  for  verily  Hujir  is  lonely  in  his 
captivity." 

Now  having  thus  spoken,  with  a  smile  of  exultation 
Sohrab  rode  forward  to  his  second  encounter;  and  the 
maid,  at  his  approach,  let  fly  a  storm  of  arrows,  attacking 
him  first  from  one  side,  then  from  the  other.  Yea,  the 
missiles  fell  thick  like  hail,  whizzing  about  the  hero's 
head  so  that  he  could  not  defend  himself,  and  behold,  he 
was  angry  and  ashamed,  for  was  not  the  whole  army  gaz- 
ing upon  his  discomfiture  ? 

Nevertheless,  it  was  a  pretty  sight  to  watch  the  maid! 
For,  as  she  rapidly  wheeled  her  horse  from  side  to  side, 
now  retiring  and  now  advancing,  smiting  her  shield  with 
her  spear  to  frighten  the  hero's  horse,  and  raining  her 
shower  of  arrows,  verily  she  seemed  the  personification  of 
dexterity  and  skill,  and  it  looked  as  if  the  overthrow  of 
Sohrab  was  at  hand. 

But,  though  for  a  time  the  contest  was  doubtful,  the 
advantage  was  not  to  be  always  upon  the  side  of  the 
maiden.  For  Sohrab,  mortified  and  enraged,  advanced 
with  fury,  regarding  not  the  arrows.  But  think  not  that  he 


208  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

dismayed  Gurdafrid  a  whit!  Nay,  for  when  she  saw  him 
approach,  dexterously  she  threw  her  bow  over  her  shoulder, 
put  her  spear  in  rest,  and  galloped  to  meet  him.  Then 
Sohrab,  drawing  his  spear  back  until  the  point  was  almost 
level  with  his  body,  delivered  it  with  all  his  force,  striking 
Gurdafrid  upon  the  girdle.  Now  the  force  of  the  blow  was 
so  great  that  it  burst  the  fastenings  of  her  coat  of  mail  and 
hurled  her  from  her  saddle  like  a  ball  struck  by  a  racquet, 
and  you  would  have  said  that  now  the  contest  was  ended. 
But  not  so,  for,  quick  as  a  flash,  the  maiden  twisted  herself 
under  her  saddle,  drew  a  sword  from  out  her  girdle,  and 
cut  Sohrab's  spear  in  half.  Then,  having  performed  this 
feat,  quickly  she  sprang  again  into  her  saddle  and  turned 
to  go,  for  she  was  weary  from  the  fierceness  of  the  combat, 
and  she  saw  that  the  day  was  hers. 

But  Sohrab,  perceiving  her  intent,  slackening  the  reins 
of  his  horse,  galloped  after  the  fleeing  one  at  full  speed, 
and,  having  come  up  with  her,  boldly  grasped  the  helmet 
from  her  head;  for  he  desired  to  look  upon  the  face  of  the 
hero  who  could  thus  withstand  the  son  of  Rustem.  Im- 
agine his  surprise,  therefore,  when  from  out  the  iron  helm 
there  rolled  coil  upon  coil  of  beautiful  dusky  hair!  For 
this  informed  him  that  his  valiant  adversary  was  no  battle- 
tried  warrior,  but  only  a  fair  young  maid.  Now  confounded 
at  this  most  astonishing  discovery,  Sohrab  cried: 

"O  Valiant  One,  truly  thou  confoundest  me!  For  if  all 
the  daughters  of  Iran  are  like  unto  thee,  then  not  even  the 
mightiest  hero  can  conquer  thy  land." 

But  though  overwhelmed  with  astonishment,  Sohrab 
neglected  not  to  make  captive  his  fair  prisoner,  though  he 
dreamed  not  that  as  he  bound  her  with  his  lasso,  even  so 
was  she  snaring  him  with  her  bright  eyes.  For  continually 


SOHRAB  AND  THE  WARRIOR  MAIDEN    209 

he  gazed  at  Gurdafrid  with  ever-increasing  admiration, 
and  he  said: 

"  O  Moon  of  Beauty,  I  understand  it  not,  but  verily  thy 
soft  radiance  delighteth  my  heart  more  than  thy  brilliant 
splendor  in  battle.  Seek  not  to  escape  me,  therefore,  for 
surely  never  captive  like  unto  thee  hath  fallen  into  the 
hands  of  hero." 

Then  Gurdafrid,  beholding  the  spell  which  her  beauty 
wrought  in  the  heart  of  the  hero,  turned  unto  him  her 
fair  face  that  was  unveiled,  for  she  perceived  no  other 
means  of  safety.  Nevertheless,  she  spake  derisively  unto 
Sohrab,  and  she  said: 

"O  Hero  without  Flaw!  verily  I  envy  thee  not.  For 
will  not  thy  army  laugh  and  jibe  when  they  learn  that  the 
brave  Sohrab  was  all  but  o'ercome  by  a  woman  ?  Let  us 
hide  this  adventure,  therefore,  lest  thy  cheek  have  cause 
to  blush  because  of  me;  and  let  us  conclude  a  peace  be- 
tween us.  For  verily  the  Fort  with  all  its  soldiers  and 
treasure  now  belongeth  unto  thee;  thou  hast  only  to  follow 
and  take  possession  of  thine  own." 

Alas!  Sohrab  was  too  young  and  ardent  not  to  be  affected 
by  the  beauty  and  witchery  of  the  maid,  as  well  as  by  the 
fear  of  derision,  so  he  was  easily  beguiled  into  following 
his  fair  captive  unto  the  Fort.  And  he  said : 

"Verily,  thou  doest  well  to  make  peace  with  me,  Fair 
Warrior-Maid,  for  though  the  walls  of  thy  fortress  were  as 
high  as  the  vaults  of  heaven,  my  club  would  easily  level 
them  unto  the  ground." 

Now  so  speaking,  the  gallant  Sohrab  and  his  captive 
came  unto  the  entrance  of  the  Fort.  And  behold,  Gusta- 
hem,  when  he  saw  their  approach,  opened  unto  them  the 
portal,  and  the  warrior-maid  stepped  leisurely  over  the 


210  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

threshold.  But  alas!  when  Sohrab  would  have  followed 
after  her,  he  was  not  able,  for  the  door  had  swung  quickly 
to,  leaving  him  upon  the  outside.  Then  Sohrab  knew  that 
he  had  been  duped,  and  his  fury  knew  no  bounds.  And — 
would  you  believe  it? — as  he  yet  lingered,  overcome  with 
surprise  and  shame,  lo,  the  beautiful  warrior-maiden  came 
out  upon  the  battlements,  and  there  floated  down  unto  the 
hero,  from  her  smiling  lips,  words  of  poison  coated  o'er 
with  honey.  And  she  said; 

"Why,  I  wonder,  doth  the  Mighty  Lord  of  the  Tartars 
— the  Invincible  Sohrab — weary  himself  with  waiting? 
Surely,  since  he  cannot  stand  before  a  mere  woman,  he 
will  fall  an  easy  prey  unto  the  great  Rustem,  when  the 
Pehliva  learneth  that  vile  robbers  from  Turan  have  broken 
into  the  land,  hoping  to  subdue  it  unto  black-hearted 
Afrasiab." 

So  spake  the  triumphant  maiden,  and  as  the  mocking 
words  floated  down  unto  Sohrab,  verily  he  raged  with  all 
the  fury  of  a  wild  elephant.  And  he  cried : 

"Treacherous  One,  well  mayest  thou  mock!  but  I 
swear,  by  Ormuzd  and  all  the  Peri  of  Paradise,  that  yet 
will  I  bring  thee  into  subjection.  And  upon  that  day, 
verily  thou  shalt  pay  dearly  for  thy  guile  and  thy  double- 
faced  words." 

But  the  maiden,  beholding  how  the  Hero  raged,  laughed 
tormentingly,  giving  no  heed  unto  his  words.  Then, 
leaning  far  over  the  battlements,  so  that  her  bewitching 
face  was  once  more  plainly  visible  to  the  discomfited 
Sohrab,  again  she  mocked.  And  she  said: 

"Such  noble  stature!  Such  arms,  and  such  a  chest! 
What  a  pity  that  it  should  become  food  for  jackals!  Such 
strength,  and  such  softness  of  heart!  And  yet,  I  fear  me 


SOHRAB  AND  THE  WARRIOR  MAIDEN    211 

the  stupid  cow  will  soon  be  ruminating  upon  the  grass 
which  covers  thy  grave.  Ah,  woe  is  me!" 

Now  Sohrab  was  covered  with  shame  that  he  must  hear 
such  derisive  words.  Nevertheless,  the  dauntless  spirit  of 
the  maiden  delighted  him,  while  the  soft,  mocking  lips, 
the  fair,  flushed  cheeks,  and  the  laughing,  dark  eyes  exer- 
cised a  strange  fascination  over  him,  causing  his  heart  to 
beat  with  more  than  shame  and  anger.  Realizing,  how- 
ever, that  he  could  not  hope  to  compete  with  his  fair  adver- 
sary in  a  battle  of  words,  he  now  replied  proudly  unto  her: 

"Fair  Mocker!  I  go;  but  if  the  Fort  be  not  surrendered 
by  dawn  to-morrow,  then  shall  it  be  levelled  to  the  dust!" 

And,  having  thus  hurled  at  the  Warrior-maid  this  telling 
bomb,  the  hero  gave  rein  unto  his  horse,  and  galloped  back 
unto  the  army,  followed  by  the  sweet,  mocking  laugh  of 
Gurdafrid,  which  rang  in  his  ears  like  beautiful,  tantaliz- 
ing music. 

True  to  his  word,  however,  at  dawn  Sohrab  marched 
with  his  army  against  the  Fort.  But  as  they  drew  near 
they  beheld  not  a  single  soldier  upon  the  walls,  and  upon 
advancing  unto  the  gates,  they  were  found  to  be  open,  while 
there  remained  not  a  single  armed  man  in  the  place.  You 
see,  the  truth  was  that  the  governor  of  the  Fort,  well  know- 
ing the  fate  that  awaited  them  if  they  tarried  until  Sohrab 
stormed  its  walls,  had  escaped  with  all  his  people,  in  the 
darkness  of  the  night,  by  a  secret  passage  known  only 
unto  the  Persians. 

So  thus  was  Sohrab  again  outwitted,  and  thus"also  van- 
ished the  Warrior-maid,  so  beautiful  and  so  brave,  from  the 
sight  and  grasp  of  the  bold  eaglet  who  had  flown  so  gayly 
and  confidently  forth  from  the  heights  of  Samengan  to 
conquer  the  world. 


THE  WRATH  OF  RUSTEM 

NOW  although  Sohrab,  the  son  of  Rustem,  was 
known  throughout  the  length   and  breadth   of 
Turan  as  a  valiant  young  warrior,  yet  up  to  the 
time  of  his  adventure  with  the  Warrior-maid  his  fame  had 
not  spread  unto  Iran. 

But  this  was  now  to  be  changed.  For  behold,  the  gov- 
ernor of  the  White  Fort,  when  forced  to  give  into  the 
hands  of  Sohrab  this  key  to  the  heart  of  the  empire,  hastily 
sent  forth  a  swift  messenger  bearing  a  letter  unto  Kaikous 
the  Shah.  And  the  letter  told  how  that  an  army,  like  unto 
locusts  for  multitude,  had  flown  forth  from  Turan,  at 
whose  head  rode  a  chief  whose  head  towered  above  the 
stars,  and  whose  prowess,  though  he  was  still  but  a  child 
in  years — shamed  that  of  the  lion,  the  dragon,  and  the 
fierce  crocodile.  Yea,  and  he  told  how  that  Hujir  had  been 
overcome  and  taken  prisoner  by  this  great  champion,  and 
how  he  now  threatened  to  overrun  and  conquer  all  Persia, 
unless  the  great  Shah  right  speedily  opposed  his  progress. 

Now  Kaikous,  when  he  had  read  the  letter  of  Gusta- 
hem,  was  greatly  troubled.  So  he  called  about  him  his 
nobles  to  take  counsel,  and  behold,  with  one  accord  they 
cried: 

"Verily,  Rustem  alone  can  deliver  us  from  this  great 
peril!" 

So  the  Shah  hastily  summoned  a  scribe,  dictating  unto 
him  a  letter.  And  he  said : 

212 


THE  WRATH  OF  RUSTEM  213 

"O  mighty  Pehliva,  whose  glorious  deeds  have  ever 
caused  the  throne  of  light  to  shine  with  splendor  greater 
than  the  sun,  behold,  once  more  thy  country  calleth  thee 
unto  her  aid!  For  lo!  among  the  Tartar  host  there  hath 
appeared  a  mighty  champion  whose  like  hath  never  been 
seen  save  in  the  house  of  Saum  and  Neriman.  Already 
hath  he  demolished  the  White  Fort,  and  only  Rustem  can 
bar  the  path  that  leadeth  to  the  throne.  Come  quickly, 
then,  to  Iran's  aid,  rivalling  the  wind-footed  dromedary 
in  thy  speed.  Be  it  night  or  day,  tarry  not  e'en  to  speak 
the  word  that  hangeth  upon  thy  lips,  and  if  thou  bearest 
roses  in  thy  hands,  stop  not  to  smell  them,  lest  Sohrab 
conquering  come  and  all  be  lost." 

Now  having  finished  the  letter,  the  Shah  gave  it  unto 
a  warrior  named  Gew  to  carry  unto  Rustem.  And  he 
said: 

"O  my  Pehliva,  truly  my  soul  suffereth  an  agony  of 
fear!  Haste  thou,  therefore,  unto  the  great  Champion, 
pausing  for  neither  rest  nor  food.  And  when  thou  art 
come  unto  thy  journey's  end,  do  not  linger  there  for  even 
an  hour,  for  my  heart  crieth,  haste!  haste!  and  truly  the 
need  is  great." 

So  Gew  departed,  pausing  for  naught  until  he  set  foot 
within  the  gates  of  Rustem.  And  so  great  was  his  speed 
that  the  watchman  upon  the  tower  at  Zaboulistan,  noting 
his  approach,  marvelled  greatly,  hastening  quickly  unto 
Rustem  with  the  news.  And  he  said: 

"O  Mighty  One,  the  watch-tower  revealeth  a  warrior 
coming  by  the  way  of  Persia,  riding  like  the  wind.  I  fear 
me  that  he  bringeth  bad  news." 

Now  being  thus  informed,  at  once  Rustem  and  his 
chiefs  rode  out  to  meet  the  messenger,  as  was  the  Oriental 


214  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 


custom.  And  when  he  beheld  that  it  was  Gew,  he  greeted 
him  cordially,  for  they  were  old  comrades  in  arms.  Being 
informed  of  his  mission,  however,  and  of  the  strength  and 
courage  of  the  gallant  young  Tartar,  who  was  causing  the 
Shah  such  agony  of  soul,  Rustem  marvelled  greatly.  And 
he  said : 

"Verily,  I  should  not  have  been  surprised  if  such  a  hero 
as  thou  namest  had  arisen  in  Iran;  but  that  a  warrior  of 
such  renown  should  spring  forth  from  amidst  the  Tartar 
horde  is  certainly  past  belief.  Yet  thou  sayest — dost  thou  ? 
— that  the  lineage  of  this  Pehliva,  so  like  unto  Saum  and 
the  great  heroes  of  my  house,  is  Turanian?  Strange! 
Now  I  myself  have  a  child  whom  the  daughter  of  a  Tartar 
King  bare  unto  me;  but  the  child  is  a  girl.  And  even  if  it 
were  a  son,  it  is  yet  but  an  infant,  while  that  which  thou 
sayest  hath  been  done,  surely  it  is  not  the  work  of  a  babe! 
But  enter,  I  pray  thee,  into  my  house,  and  we  will  then 
confer  further  as  to  this  matter." 

Then  Rustem,  seeing  that  his  guest  was  fatigued,  com- 
manded that  a  great  banquet  be  made  ready,  and  he 
feasted  his  comrade  so  royally  that  he  caused  him  to  forget 
both  care  and  time.  But  when  morn  was  come,  Gew 
remembered  the  commands  of  his  Shah,  and  he  spake 
thereof  unto  his  host,  who  replied  unto  him : 

"O  my  brave  comrade!  Behold,  we  must  all  die 
some  day.  Let  us,  therefore,  bask  in  the  sunshine  of  the 
present!  As  for  this  Tartar,  disquiet  not  thyself  concern- 
ing him,  for  though  he  be  a  hero,  the  like  of  which  the 
world  hath  not  seen,  verily  he  shall  fall  into  my  hands! 
But  all  in  good  time!  To-day,  however,  we  will  feast,  for 
I  perceive  that  thy  lips  are  yet  parched  with  the  speed  of 
thy  journey." 


THE  WRATH  OF  RUSTEM  215 

So  Rustem  made  ready  another  banquet,  and  for  three 
days  the  comrades  feasted  and  made  merry  without  ceas- 
ing. But  on  the  fourth  day  Gew,  who  feared  the  anger  of 
the  Shah,  uprose  with  resolve,  appearing  before  his  host 
girt  for  departure.  And  he  said: 

"O  Glory  of  Iran,  generous  hath  been  thy  hospitality, 
and  long  will  it  warm  the  heart  of  Gew!  It  behooveth  us 
now,  however,  to  return  unto  the  Shah.  For  behold!  the 
fear  of  Sohrab  weigheth  upon  his  soul  like  a  nightmare, 
and  he  burneth  with  impatience,  since  sleep  and  rest  have 
deserted  his  pillow,  and  hunger  and  thirst  are  exercising 
their  dominion  over  him!  Let  us  make  haste,  therefore, 
for  well  thou  knowest  that  Kaikous  is  a  man  senseless  and 
easily  aroused  to  wrath." 

But  Rustem,  smiling,  replied  with  easy  courtesy  unto 
Gew: 

"Really,  comrade,  there  is  no  need  for  such  haste!  It  is 
true  that  thou  art  right  about  Kaikous,  but  as  for  his 
anger,  let  it  give  thee  not  a  moment's  anxiety!  For  verily 
the  man  liveth  not  who  dareth  to  be  wroth  with  Rustem." 

Nevertheless,  his  army  being  now  recruited,  the  great 
Pehliva  commanded  that  Rakush  be  saddled,  and  they  set 
forth  unto  the  Court;  and  great  was  the  train  that  followed 
after  them.  And  behold,  when  they  were  come  near  unto 
the  King's  palace,  a  great  company  of  nobles  rode  out  to 
meet  them  to  do  honor  unto  the  Glory  of  Iran,  and  to  con- 
duct him  into  the  presence  of  the  Shah. 

So,  presently,  Rustem  entered  the  great  audience-room 
of  kings  and,  advancing  unto  the  throne,  performed  obei- 
sance unto  the  Lord  of  the  World.  But  alas!  Kaikous 
was  black  with  rage,  and  so,  opening  the  doors  of  his 
mouth,  words  of  folly  escaped  his  lips.  And  he  said: 


216  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

"So  thou  art  come  at  last,  O  Insolent  Pehliva!  Verily, 
it  is  well.  And  now  I  should  like  to  ask,  'Who  is  Rustem, 
indeed,  that  he  dareth  to  defy  my  power  and  disobey 
my  commands?'  Truly,  if  I  had  a  sword  in  my  hand  at 
this  moment,  like  an  orange  would  I  split  his  head,  half  in 
half,  and  throw  it  unto  the  jackals!  As  I  have  not — 
Guards,  seize  him! — for  I  will  that  he  be  hanged  alive 
upon  the  nearest  gallows,  and  that  his  name  be  blotted  out 
from  the  list  of  my  heroes." 

Now  Gew,  when  he  heard  these  words  of  anger,  was 
confounded,  and  in  his  sore  dismay  he  cried  unto  the 
King: 

"  O  Lord  of  the  World,  wilt  thou  really  lay  hands  upon 
Rustem  ?  I  pray  thee,  forget  not  that  he  alone  is  the  bul- 
wark of  the  throne — yea,  e'en  as  he  and  his  house  have 
ever  been  through  long  generations!" 

But  alas!  Gew's  words  of  wisdom  but  fanned  the 
blaze  of  the  King's  anger.  Beside  himself  with  fury, 
therefore,  he  raged  in  his  wrath  like  unto  a  mad  elephant, 
shouting  with  a  roar  that  made  the  very  throne  tremble: 

"Guards!  Seize  yon  barking  dog  also,  and  hang  him 
alive  with  the  other.  Haste!  Out  of  my  presence!" 

Now  at  this,  Tus,  who  feared  that  Kaikous  in  his  mad 
rage  might  do  unto  the  Mighty  One  an  injury,  laid  his 
hand  gently  upon  that  of  Rustem,  to  lead  him  from  the 
audience-chamber;  but  the  Pehliva  would  not  suffer  it. 
Breaking  away  from  his  grasp,  therefore,  he  stood  boldly 
before  Kaikous,  his  anger  rivalling  that  of  the  King.  And 
he  said: 

"Petty  Monarch,  darest  thou  really  to  rage  at  me — 
Rustem?  Verily  thou  shalt  bitterly  rue  thy  temerity! 
And  now,  in  turn  I  ask  of  thee,  ( Who,  after  all,  is  Kaikous 


THE  WRATH  OF  RUSTEM  217 

that  he  ventureth  to  talk  of  the  gallows  unto  me— Rustem  ? ' 
Listen,  and  I  will  tell  it  unto  thee: 

"Verily,  Kaikous  is  that  madman  who  led  his  brave 
army  into  Mazinderan  and  Hamaveran,  and  who  also 
winged  his  foolish  flight,  once  upon  a  time,  into  heaven; 
Kaikous  is  that  Shah  who  hath  ever  in  his  folly  brought 
derision  and  shame  unto  Iran  and  sorrow  and  woe  unto 
his  subjects;  Kaikous  is  the  monarch  who  ever  sendeth 
for  his  Pehliva  when  danger  threateneth,  instead  of  going 
boldly  forth  himself  to  meet  his  foes — aye  Kaikous  is  a 
brave  fellow!  for,  hath  he  not  the  heart  of  a  mouse  and 
the  head  of  that  stubborn  creature  who  flappeth  his  long 
ears  and  brayeth  unto  the  moon  ? 

"And  now,  having  disposed  of  the  glorious  Kous,  I  will 
answer  unto  thee  as  to  Rustem: 

"Verily,  Rustem  is  the  son  of  Zal  and  Saum  and  Neri- 
man,  heroes  who  have  ever  supported  the  throne  of  light, 
and  but  for  whom  Kaikous  would  never  have  sat  upon  its 
seat;  Rustem  is  a  free  man,  being  slave  unto  none  and 
servant  alone  unto  God,  who  hath  given  unto  him  his 
glorious  strength  and  courage;  Rustem  is  the  Pehliva 
whose  deeds  shine  as  the  sun  in  a  dark  world,  and  who 
again  and  again  hath  been  entreated  to  take  his  true  place 
upon  the  throne  of  Iran;  Rustem  is  the  Champion  who 
hath  the  world  at  his  feet,  and  yet  who  hath  desired  no 
throne  except  Rakush,  no  crown  but  his  helmet,  and  no 
sceptre  but  his  grandsire's  mighty  club;  yea,  Rustem  is 
the  Pehliva  who,  times  without  number,  hath  risked  his 
life  to  save  the  illustrious  Kous  from  the  penalty  of  his 
foolish  deeds. 

"But  at  last,  O  Senseless  One,  hath  Rustem  reached  the 
end  of  his  patience.  And  now  he  sayeth  unto  thee,  be- 


218  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

hold,  when  the  brave  Tartar  chieftain  cometh,  go  thyself 
out  to  meet  him — thou  who  art  brave,  and  wise,  and  full  of 
strength  and  valor  like  unto  the  Shahs  of  Old!  Perchance 
thou  canst  then  use  thy  boasted  gallows  for  him.  But  as 
for  Rustem,  verily  thou  shalt  see  him  no  more  in  the  land 
of  Persia,  for  he  is  sick  unto  death  of  thy  follies." 

Thus  spake  the  Great  Rustem  in  his  wrath,  and  having 
finished,  fearlessly  he  turned  him,  and  strode  unhindered 
from  out  the  presence-chamber.  And  having  mounted 
upon  Rakush,  lo,  he  vanished,  ere  the  dumfounded  Kai- 
kous  had  rallied  from  his  astonishment. 

Now  the  nobles  and  chiefs  of  Iran  were  greatly  troubled 
by  the  wrath  of  Rustem,  for  they  were  sheep  and  the 
Great  Pehliva  was  their  shepherd.  So  they  murmured 
against  Kaikous,  saying: 

"Truly  the  Shah,  in  his  anger,  hath  forgotten  all  grati- 
tude and  decency!  else  how  dare  he  threaten  the  Great 
Rustem,  to  whom  he  oweth  his  life  and  his  throne,  with 
the  vile  gallows  ?  Verily,  the  wrath  of  the  Mighty  One  is 
righteous!  But  what,  alas,  is  to  become  of  Iran,  if  her 
only  invincible  Champion  forsaketh  her  now  that  so  great 
a  peril  threateneth?" 

So  talked  the  nobles  of  Iran,  and  finally  in  their  dilemma 
they  decided  to  choose  a  mediator,  Gudarz  the  Aged,  who 
should  stand  before  the  King;  and,  though  the  mission  was 
fraught  with  danger,  Gudarz  quailed  not,  but  spake  long 
and  without  fear  unto  the  Shah,  counting  over,  as  a  string 
of  pearls,  each  glorious  deed  of  Rustem.  And  having  so 
spoken,  then  fearlessly  he  reproached  the  weak  monarch 
with  ingratitude.  And  he  said : 

"  O  King  of  Kings,  can  it  really  be  possible  that  so  soon 
thou  hast  blotted  out  from  thy  book  of  remembrance  all 


THE  WRATH  OF  RUSTEM  219 

that  Rustem  hath  done  for  thee  and  this  land?  How  he 
conquered  Mazinderan  and  the  Great  White  Deev;  and 
how  he  gave  back  unto  thee  the  sight  of  thy  eyes?  Yet 
now  as  his  reward  thou  commandest  that  he  be  hanged 
alive  upon  a  gallows,  thou  who  art  King  only  by  his 
grace!  Now  I  ask  thee  to  answer  me  truly — is  this  the 
justice  of  a  great  and  wise  Monarch,  or  that  worthy  of  the 
great  King  of  Kings  ? 

Alas!  beholding  his  acts,  spread  out  thus  naked  before 
him,  Kaikous  was  ashamed  of  that  which  he  had  said  in 
his  anger.  So,  humbling  himself  before  Gudarz,  he  said : 

"O  white-haired  Pehliva,  verily  thou  speakest  well! 
The  words  of  a  mighty  monarch  should  be  those  of  wis- 
dom and  not  such  as  provoke  wrath.  Go,  therefore,  unto 
Rustem  and  say  unto  him  that  Kaikous  repenteth  him  of 
his  bitter  words  and  calleth  him  back  to  be  his  most  hon- 
ored Pehliva." 

So,  thus  armed,  swiftly  Gudarz  rode  forth  in  search  of 
the  angry  Rustem,  and  behold,  all  the  mighty  chiefs  of 
Iran  joined  themselves  unto  him,  so  that  there  was  a 
great  company.  Now  they  rode  fast  and  far  before 
they  overtook  the  anger-spurred  hero,  but  when  they 
were  finally  come  up  with  him,  lo,  the  entire  company 
prostrated  themselves  in  the  dust  before  him.  And  Gu- 
darz said: 

"O  Hero  of  Heroes!  Listen,  I  pray  thee,  unto  the 
words  of  an  aged  warrior  who  loveth  both  thee  and  Iran 
well.  Now  truly  thy  wrath  is  just,  and  so  have  I  said  unto 
Kaikous,  whose  thoughts  in  his  anger  o'erflow  like  unto 
new  wine  that  fermenteth,  being  sour  and  bitter  unto  the 
taste.  But,  though  hasty,  the  Shah  soon  repenteth  him  of 
his  anger,  and  behold,  already  is  he  both  ashamed  and 


220  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

sorry  for  his  ingratitude  unto  the  Pehliva,  who  is  the  light 
of  his  eyes  and  the  support  of  his  throne! 

"Now  as  for  Kaikous — alas!  For  yet  oft  must  the  sun 
revolve  above  his  head  ere  he  learneth  the  wisdom  of  the 
great — even  as  hath  been  so  aptly  said  by  Zal,  thy  silver- 
crowned  father.  But  behold,  the  whole  world  knoweth 
that  Rustem  is  noble  of  mind  as  well  as  wise,  and  brave, 
and  strong  of  limb!  And  though  he  be  justly  angered 
against  the  Shah,  yet  hath  Iran  done  no  wrong  that  it  should 
be  left  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  black-hearted  Afrasiab." 

So  spake  the  aged  Gudarz  in  his  wisdom.  But  alas! 
though  so  aptly  spoken,  the  words  fell  upon  deaf  ears,  for 
Rustem  was  still  in  a  towering  rage.  Turning  unto  the 
old  man,  therefore,  he  said: 

"  Speak  not  unto  me  of  Kaikous,  Brave  Gudarz — either 
of  his  anger  or  his  repentance — for  what  is  he  unto  me 
but  a  grain  of  vile  dust  ?  Behold,  Rustem  feareth  only  his 
Creator,  and  from  henceforth  Him  alone  will  he  serve. 
As  for  Kaikous,  let  him  do  his  worst,  for  verily  I  am  not 
only  sick,  but  ashamed  in  my  soul  of  his  weakness  and 
follies,  and  I  will  fight  no  more  of  his  battles." 

Now  when  the  nobles  heard  these  words,  they  wailed  in 
sorrow,  and  cast  dust  upon  their  heads.  But  Gudarz 
despaired  not,  for  he  had  not  grown  old  at  the  Court 
without  learning  much  of  human  nature,  which  he  knew 
to  be  the  same  in  a  great  hero  as  in  ordinary  mortals.  So, 
in  his  wisdom,  he  still  held  in  reserve  a  barbed  arrow, 
sharp  enough  to  pierce  even  the  armor  of  the  invincible 
Rustem;  and  this  he  now  shot  forth,  saying  gently  unto 
the  hero: 

"O  Glorious  One,  all  that  thou  sayest,  verily  it  is  just 
and  true!  But  it  appeareth  unto  me  that  there  remaineth 


THE  WRATH  OF  RUSTEM  221 

somewhat  still  to  be  considered.  For,  when  it  shall  be 
learned  throughout  the  land  that  the  Mighty  Rustem — 
undisputed  Champion  of  the  Whole  World — hath  fled 
before  the  face  of  a  much-heralded  Tartar  chief,  young 
and  full  of  prowess,  will  not  all  the  warriors  say : 

"'Alas!  alas!  We  had  not  thought  it,  but  truly  Rustem 
is  getting  past  his  prime.  What  a  pity  that  a  hero's  glory 
vanisheth  so  quickly,  when  he  beginneth  to  grow  old! 
Now  soon  will  Rustem  also  be  heard  of  no  more,  for  since 
he  feareth  this  valiant  young  Tartar,  surely  he  must  be 
a  mighty  hero,  who  will  soon  supplant  the  Elephant- 
limbed  as  Champion  of  the  World.' 

"Yea,  greatly  I  fear,  O  mighty  One,  that  not  only  this, 
but  much  more  bitter  unto  the  taste  will  be  said.  There- 
fore I,  Gudarz  the  Aged,  ask  thee:  Is  it  wise,  at  this  hour, 
to  turn  from  thy  allegiance  unto  the  Shah,  thus  tarnishing 
thy  glory  and  causing  the  downfall  of  Iran  to  rest  upon 
thy  head  ?  Verily,  nay;  for  thy  retreat  would  be  the  path 
of  folly,  which  thy  soul  hateth.  Put  from  thee,  therefore, 
the  empty  words  of  Kaikous,  and  lead  us  forth  unto  battle 
against  this  Tartar.  For  verily  it  must  not  be  said  that 
Rustem  feared  to  fight  a  beardless  boy!" 

Thus  sharp  was  the  poison-tipped  arrow  of  Gudarz, 
and  not  fruitlessly  did  it  speed  unto  its  mark.  For  behold ! 
Rustem  stood  confounded  by  this  view  of  the  matter,  such 
thoughts  being  new  unto  him.  Rallying  from  his  sur- 
prise, however,  he  said  proudly  unto  the  Shah's  messenger: 

"Verily,  if  by  searching,  Rustem  could  find  one  atom  of 
fear  in  his  heart,  quickly  would  he  tear  his  soul  from  his 
body  in  shame!  But  the  slayer  of  the  Great  White  Deev 
needeth  not  to  vindicate  his  courage,  for  it  is  known  unto 
all  the  world." 


222  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

So  spake  Rustem.  Nevertheless,  he  continued  to  ponder 
the  words  of  Gudarz,  for  he  knew  them  to  be  the  message 
of  an  old  man  grown  wise  in  the  thoughts  of  men.  And  so, 
the  current  of  his  anger  being  changed,  soon  he  decided  to 
do  for  the  sake  of  Iran,  what  he  knew  to  be  right.  For, 
though  he  really  feared  not  for  his  glory,  yet  well  he  knew 
that  none  but  Rustem  could  meet  this  crisis  in  the  history 
of  his  country.  And  besides,  deep  in  his  soul  was  the  long- 
ing to  meet  this  vaunted  Tartar  champion  and  joy  once 
more  in  battle. 

Therefore,  great  were  the  shouts  of  joy  when,  in  obedi- 
ence to  his  master's  hand,  Rakush  faced  once  more  toward 
Persia.  But  verily  it  was  with  proud  step  and  uplifted 
head  that  the  hero  appeared  once  more  before  the  Shah. 
When  Kaikous  beheld  Rustem,  however,  so  great  was  his 
relief  that  he  stepped  down  from  off  his  throne  to  welcome 
him,  saying  unto  him  in  deep  humility  of  spirit: 

"O  glorious  Pehliva!  Verily,  I  am  foolish  of  soul,  as 
thou  sayest,  and  not  worthy  to  sit  upon  the  throne  of  light. 
But  must  not  a  man  be  as  Ormuzd  hath  made  him?  Now 
thou  art  brave,  but  alas!  my  heart  was  full  of  fear  because 
of  this  mighty  Tartar,  and  I  looked  unto  thee  for  safety, 
for  art  thou  not  the  bulwark  of  my  throne  ?  But,  though 
haste  is  my  birthright,  long  thou  wert  in  coming,  and  so  in 
my  wrath  I  spake  unto  thee  foolish  words,  though  now 
my  mouth  is  full  of  dust." 

So  spake  the  contrite  Shah,  and  Rustem,  beholding  his 
humility,  replied  unto  Him: 

"O  King  of  Kings!  Verily  the  world  is  thy  footstool, 
and  all  its  inhabitants  thy  slaves,  for  such  is  the  prerogative 
of  the  Shahs.  As  for  Rustem,  ever  hath  his  loins  been  girt 
in  fealty  unto  Iran,  and  so  may  it  ever  be  while  he  liveth." 


THE  WRATH  OF  RUSTEM  223 

So,  peace  being  once  more  restored,  Kaikous  made  a 
great  feast,  inviting  unto  it  all  his  heroes.  But  of  all  the 
mighty  ones  present,  none  were  lauded  save  only  Rustem, 
the  Champion  of  the  World,  before  whom  rich  gifts  were 
poured — yea,  until  mountain  high  rose  the  enormous  pile! 
Then,  and  not  until  then,  did  Kaikous  say  unto  the  slaves 
"enough!"  for  Rustem  would  have  no  more.  And  now 
all  was  well  again  within  the  gates  of  the  Shah,  for  lo!  the 
wrath  of  Rustem  had  been  appeased. 


RUSTEM  THE  SPY 

BEHOLD !  on  the  morning  following  the  reconciling 
feast  of  Kaikous  and  Rustem,  the  Shah  caused  the 
clarions  of  war  to  be  sounded  throughout  the  city, 
calling  the  loyal  sons  of  Iran  to  go  forth  to  meet  the  Tartar 
host.    Now  over  one  hundred  thousand  horsemen  in  glit- 
tering mail  responded  unto  the  call,  so  that  the  earth  was 
covered  with  warriors  like  unto  blades  of  grass,  and  all 
the  air  was  darkened  with  their  spears.    A  troop  of  ponder- 
ous war-elephants  also  accompanied  the  legions,  making 
the  ground  tremble  beneath  their  mighty  tread. 

Thus  marched  the  army,  and  so  imposing  was  it  that 
when  at  evening  they  pitched  their  tents,  and  the  torches 
gleamed  in  the  canvas  streets,  the  camp  seemed  like  unto 
a  great  city.  So,  marching  by  day  and  resting  at  night,  the 
legions  finally  drew  near  unto  the  White  Castle,  where 
Sohrab  still  remained,  preparing  his  forces  for  an  advance 
upon  the  capital.  When  they  were  come  unto  the  plains 
where  stood  the  great  fortress,  however,  they  set  up  their 
tents  silently  in  the  dead  of  night,  planning  a  surprise  for 
the  Tartars. 

Now  thus  it  happened  that,  the  black  veil  of  night  being 
lifted,  behold,  the  watchman  upon  the  high  towers  of  the 
White  Fortress  saw  spread  out  on  the  plains  before  him  an 
immense  white  city,  set  up  as  by  magic.  Surprised  and 
dismayed,  therefore,  he  set  up  a  great  shout,  which  at  once 
brought  Sohrab  and  Human,  the  two  great  Tartar  chiefs, 
out  upon  the  ramparts. 

224 


RUSTEM  THE  SPY  225 

And  behold!  when  Human  saw  upon  every  side  the 
mighty  Persian  legions,  looking  so  brave  and  formidable, 
he  grew  suddenly  pale,  and  trembled  like  unto  an  aspen. 
But  Sohrab,  demanding  a  cup  of  wine,  drank  unto  their 
destruction,  speaking  words  of  cheer  unto  his  companion. 
And  he  said: 

"Look,  Brave  Human!  There  are  many  men  in  this 
hostile  army,  it  is  true,  but  within  its  ranks  I  see  no  hero 
with  mighty  mace  who  can  stand  against  the  fearless  son 
of  Rustem.  When  that  mighty  champion  himself  appear- 
eth,  then  will  it  be  time  indeed  for  us  to  rally  our  courage. 
But  as  for  these  others — why,  they  are  but  dogs!  And 
see,  I  spit  upon  them!  for  without  Rustem  to  inspire  them, 
they  have  neither  courage  nor  heart." 

So  saying,  Sohrab  went  down  from  the  ramparts,  and 
proceeding  unto  his  pavilion,  which  was  pitched  upon  the 
plain  in  front  of  the  Fort,  he  invited  his  great  warriors  and 
chiefs  unto  a  banquet.  Yea,  gayly  he  issued  his  invitations, 
saying  unto  his  guests: 

"To-day  let  us  feast;  let  us  banquet  to-day, 
For  to-morrow  to  battle  we'll  hasten  away." 

But  behold!  at  Sohrab's  banquet  there  was  to  be  one 
uninvited  guest.  For  when  night  had  swathed  the  earth 
in  darkness,  Rustem  the  Mighty  went  boldly  unto  the 
King,  demanding  permission  to  go  forth  unarmed  to  spy 
out  the  forces  of  the  enemy,  and  to  learn  the  character  of 
the  chieftains  opposed  unto  him — particularly  of  Sohrab, 
whose  renown  had  aroused  such  dread  in  the  heart  of 
Kaikous. 

So,  permission  being  granted,  the  dauntless  Rustem 
clad  himself  in  the  dress  of  a  Tartar,  and  thus  disguised, 


226  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

under  the  cover  of  darkness,  he  stole  forth  like  a  lion 
which  stalketh  a  herd  of  antelopes,  penetrating  into  the 
very  presence  of  the  great  Sohrab  and  his  warriors  as  they 
sat  at  their  feast.  Now  so  stealthy  had  been  his  advance 
that  none  dreamed  of  his  presence  as  they  feasted  and 
made  merry  around  the  festal  board — nay,  not  even  the 
valiant  Sohrab,  as  he  sat  relating  unto  his  warriors  some  of 
the  mighty  deeds  of  the  heroes  of  old. 

Wherefore,  as  Rustem  stood  by  the  door  watching,  he 
beheld  that  the  young  Champion  was  like  unto  a  tall  cypress 
of  good  sap,  while  round  about  him  were  seated  more  than 
a  hundred  brave  warriors,  scarcely  equalled  in  the  Persian 
army — so  fiery  and  courageous  appeared  they  as  they  lis- 
tened unto  the  inspiring  tales  of  Sohrab.  And  it  was  in- 
deed a  festive  scene!  For  torches  gave  back  the  flash  of 
arms,  and  the  gleam  of  eyes  eager  for  the  morrow's  battle, 
even  as  they  were  now  bright  with  the  red  wine  which 
slaves  poured  from  golden  bugles  into  the  crystal  glasses 
before  them.  And  behold,  not  only  was  there  glorious 
fare  to  delight  the  palate,  but  music  to  charm  the  ear! 
So  gayety  and  merriment  ruled  the  hour;  neither  did  they 
dream  of  coming  sorrow. 

But  as  Rustem  watched  the  scene  from  the  shadow  of 
the  door,  presently  it  came  to  pass  that  Zendeh,  one  of  the 
warriors,  having  occasion  to  go  forth,  came  nigh  unto  the 
spot  where  the  Hero  was  concealed.  Now  Zendeh  was 
brother  unto  the  Princess  Tamineh,  who  had  sent  him 
forth  with  her  son  that  he  might  point  out  unto  him  his 
father,  whom  he  alone  knew  of  all  the  army.  And  the 
Princess  did  this  that  harm  might  not  befall  should  the  two 
champions  meet  in  battle.  But  alas!  as  Zendeh  retired 
from  the  banquet,  it  chanced  that  he  perceived  the  shadow 


RUSTEM  THE  SPY  227 

of  some  one  in  ambush.  So,  advancing  unto  the  place 
where  Rustem  was  hidden,  he  said  quietly: 

"Vile  Persian!  Come  forth  into  the  light  that  I  may 
see  thy  face.  For  well  I  know,  by  thy  stature,  that  thou 
belongest  unto  Iran." 

Now  unto  this  Rustem  answered  never  a  word.  But 
ere  Zendeh  had  ceased  from  speaking,  he  struck  him  so 
fierce  a  blow  upon  the  nape  of  the  neck  that  he  laid  him 
dead  at  his  feet.  So,  though  there  was  to  be  no  more  feast- 
ing and  fighting  for  Zendeh,  yet  so  swift  and  silent  had 
been  Death's  messenger,  that  the  revellers  within  dreamed 
not  that  the  Dark  Angel  still  hovered  at  the  door. 

But  presently  Sohrab,  beholding  his  uncle's  place  at  the 
table  still  vacant,  asked  wherefore  he  tarried;  and,  atten- 
tion being  thus  called  to  his  long  absence,  one  of  the  chiefs 
went  forth  to  seek  him.  Now  in  so  doing  he  found  the 
body  of  the  unfortunate  warrior  cold  upon  the  pavement. 
Quickly  returning  unto  Sohrab,  therefore,  he  related  unto 
him  in  an  awed  voice  the  fatal  happening.  But  Sohrab 
would  not  believe  that,  almost  within  their  midst,  without 
a  struggle  or  cry,  death  could  have  so  suddenly  o'ertaken 
his  uncle.  So,  commanding  that  torches  be  brought,  he 
ran  quickly  unto  the  spot  of  the  tragedy,  followed  by  all 
the  warriors  and  bright  singing-girls.  But  alas!  here 
Sohrab  found  that  the  bad  news  was  indeed  true;  and 
being  sore  grieved,  he  said  unto  his  nobles: 

"Woe!  Woe  unto  Turan!  For  behold!  the  wolf  hath 
stolen  into  the  fold  and,  in  spite  of  the  shepherds  and  the 
dogs,  hath  taken  the  best  of  the  flock.  But  verily,  God 
helping  me,  I  will  be  fully  avenged  for  the  death  of  Zendeh ! " 

Now  having  thus  spoken,  Sohrab  came  back  unto  his 
place  at  the  table  and  continued  the  feast.  For,  though  his 


228  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

own  heart  was  heavy  with  sorrow,  he  wished  not  the  spirits 
of  his  warriors  to  be  dampened  by  pity,  or  fear  of  this 
terrible,  silent,  unknown  foe.  Raising  his  glass  unto  his 
lips,  therefore,  he  cried  lustily: 

"  Drink,  my  brave  comrades,  drink!  Death  to  the  slayer 
of  Zendeh,  and  destruction,  utter  and  sure,  unto  the  Persian 
host." 

So  the  warriors  and  chiefs  all  drank,  standing  upon  their 
feet;  and  as  the  hours  passed  by,  Sohrab  continued  to  fan 
into  a  yet  more  glowing  flame  the  lust  of  battle  which 
slumbered  in  each  warrior's  soul,  so  that  finally  one  and 
all  desired  naught  but  death  unto  the  Persians,  and  a  glori- 
ous victory  for  Sohrab,  their  gallant  young  leader,  whom 
they  toasted  with  such  mighty  shouts  of  pride  and  joy 
that  it  was  heard  even  within  the  lines  of  Iran. 

As  for  Rustem,  having  accomplished  his  purpose,  after 
silencing  Zendeh,  he  returned  quickly  and  silently  unto 
the  Persian  camp,  knowing  not  that  his  victim  was  the 
loved  brother  of  Tamineh,  who  was  to  have  stood  between 
Sohrab  and  his  fate. 

But  behold,  as  Rustem  would  have  entered  the  Persian 
lines  he  encountered  Gew,  who  was  acting  that  night  as 
sentry.  Now  as  this  doughty  warrior  suddenly  perceived — 
looming  up  mountain-high  out  of  the  darkness — a  warrior 
clad  in  the  garb  of  a  Tartar,  his  heart  quaked  with  fear, 
for  he  thought  that  surely  he  had  to  do  with  Sohrab,  the 
terrible  Tartar  Champion.  Nevertheless,  he  quickly  drew 
his  sword  ready  for  combat,  challenging  the  invader  to  give 
his  name  and  errand. 

Now  this  demand  was  greeted  by  a  burst  of  mighty 
laughter,  for  Rustem,  surmising  from  the  quaver  in 
Gews'  voice  what  his  thought  had  been,  could  not  but 


RUSTEM  THE  SPY  229 

enjoy  the  situation.  Still  laughing,  therefore,-  he  said 
unto  Gew: 

"Brave  comrade!  tremble  not  so.  For  lo!  thou  be- 
holdest  before  thee  a  most  harmless  creature — Rustem  the 
Spy — who  returneth  from  the  banquet  of  Sohrab  and  his 
chiefs.  Now  Sohrab  presenteth  his  compliments  unto 
Gew,  the  brave  warrior  of  the  Persians,  saying  that  he  will 
be  unable  to  meet  him  until  to-morrow,  when  he  will  hurl 
forth  unto  him  his  challenge  to  combat." 

So  spake  the  Mighty  Rustem  unto  Gew,  twitting  him 
yet  again  upon  his  lion's  roar  and  his  great  disappoint- 
ment at  being  deprived  of  his  much-longed-for  combat 
with  Sohrab.  Then  when  they  had  laughed  together, 
Rustem  described  unto  Gew  his  adventure,  ceasing  not  to 
sing  the  praise  of  Sohrab,  who,  he  said,  had  not  his  equal 
in  the  world. 

Whereupon,  having  thus  spoken,  the  Great  Champion 
said  good-night  unto  his  comrade,  bidding  him  roar  gently 
in  case  of  danger.  And  so  with  merry  jest  ended  the 
adventure  of  Rustem  the  Spy. 


THE  COMBAT  OF  SOHRAB  AGAINST 
RUSTEM 

GIVE  ear  unto  the  combat  of  Sohrab  against  Rus- 
tem,  though  it  be  a  tale  replete  with  tears.  So 
runneth  the  legend  as  told  by  Firdusi.  But  upon 
the  morning  after  the  night  of  feasting  in  his  pavilion, 
tears  were  far  from  the  eyes  of  brave  Sohrab.  For  was  he 
not  bent  upon  the  accomplishment  of  great  deeds?  Yea, 
and  did  he  not  hope  soon  to  behold  the  face  of  his  illus- 
trious father  ? 

But  alas!  a  bitter  disappointment  awaited  the  hero  in 
the  early  morning,  for  in  vain  did  he  try  to  learn  from 
Hujir,  the  defeated  champion  of  the  White  Fort,  which  of 
the  mighty  warriors  encamped  upon  the  plains  before 
them  was  Rustem,  the  great  hero  of  the  Persians.  For 
that  brave  patriot,  fearing  for  the  safety  of  Iran,  refused 
utterly  to  discover  the  identity  of  the  Great  Champion  unto 
his  enemy,  even  though  Sohrab  strongly  suspected  a  cer- 
tain great  warrior  in  a  green  tent,  who  was,  indeed, 
Rustem. 

Defeated  in  this  endeavor,  therefore,  Sohrab  returned 
unto  the  Fort,  where,  donning  his  chain  mail  and  arming 
himself,  he  and  his  band  of  sturdy  warriors  sallied  forth 
unto  the  plain.  Now  so  sudden  and  swift  was  the  onset 
that  the  Persians  were  taken  unawares,  so  that  Sohrab  in 
hurling  the  army  of  Turan  against  the  intrenched  camp 
of  the  Shah,  was  able  to  penetrate  almost  at  once  unto  its 
230 


SOHRAB  AGAINST  RUSTEM  231 

very  centre.  And  truly  it  was  a  magnificent  sight  to  behold 
the  irresistible  charge  of  this  stripling,  who,  though  but 
a  mere  youth,  yet  appeared  a  very  god  of  war. 

But,  though  taken  by  surprise,  the  Persians  soon  rallied, 
and  then  so  fearful  was  the  contest  that  the  very  earth 
seemed  to  shake  beneath  the  shock,  and  the  carnage  was 
fearful.  For,  though  from  end  to  end  the  plain  glittered 
with  bright  steel  armor,  it  covered,  alas,  the  forms  of  fallen 
heroes  as  often  as  it  shielded  the  daring  hearts  of  living 
riders,  since  as  the  tide  of  battle  ebbed  and  flowed,  thou- 
sands fell  upon  either  side,  night  alone  putting  an  end  to 
the  fearful  conflict. 

Now  through  all  the  long  hours  of  battle,  although 
Sohrab  seemed  to  be  everywhere  upon  the  field,  never  once 
did  he  catch  a  glimpse  of  the  owner  of  the  green  tent,  and 
much  he  wondered.  Nay;  not  even  when  he  thundered 
forth  words  of  pride  in  the  very  face  of  the  Shah,  telling 
him  he  had  sworn  to  hang  him  alive  upon  a  gallows,  to 
avenge  the  death  of  Zendeh,  and  challenging  him  to  com- 
bat, did  he — or  any  other  champion — stand  forth.  So 
great  was  the  terror  that  his  valor  had  aroused  in  the  hearts 
of  his  foes! 

But  in  spite  of  the  day's  successes,  that  night  Sohrab  lay 
wakeful  in  his  tent,  restlessly  tossing  upon  his  bed  of 
skins,  while  busy  thoughts  surged  through  his  brain. 
Finally,  however,  when  the  first  faint  streak  of  dawn  had 
crimsoned  the  eastern  sky,  behold,  the  Hero  arose,  passing 
through  the  silent  line  of  tents,  until  he  reached  the  one 
set  apart  for  Piran-Wisa,  the  old  chief  who  had  but 
reached  the  scene  of  battle  the  by-gone  eve.  Here,  lift- 
ing the  heavy  curtain,  Sohrab  entered  silently,  but  seeing 
that  his  old  friend  was  also  awake,  he  said: 


232  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

"O  glorious  chief,  whose  wisdom  hath  ever  been  my 
guiding  star,  behold,  once  more  I  come  to  seek  thy  coun- 
sel and  to  make  known  unto  thee  a  plan  which  hath  kept 
me  wakeful  upon  my  bed. 

"Now  it  is  indeed  well  to  fight  valiantly  and  win  suc- 
cess upon  the  field  of  battle  as  we  did  to-day,  but  for  me, 
Sohrab,  that  is  not  enough;  for  I  long  without  ceasing  to 
perform  some  mighty  deed  that  shall  reach  the  ears  of 
Rustem,  my  father,  whom  I  seem  destined  never  to  find. 
So  now  I  have  reached  a  conclusion:  I  would  have  thee 
challenge  the  bravest  of  the  Persian  Pehliva  to  meet  me, 
man  to  man,  in  single  combat.  If  I  prevail,  Rustem  will 
surely  learn  of  it;  while  if  I  fail,  no  man  need  hear  of  me 
again." 

So  spake  impetuous  Sohrab,  and  Piran-Wisa  listened 
quietly.  When  he  had  finished,  however,  he  said  unto 
him: 

"My  son,  much  I  love  thy  valorous  spirit,  which  hath 
ever  striven  and  longed  for  the  noblest  and  best.  Neverthe- 
less, in  this  matter  I  counsel  thee  to  think  of  thy  mother, 
and  be  content  to  share  the  common  risk  of  battle  which 
falleth  unto  all  alike.  Or  if  thou  wouldst  seek  that  loved 
father  whom  thou  hast  never  seen,  seek  him  where  men 
say  he  now  dwelleth,  in  far-off  Seistan  with  his  aged  father 
Zal." 

But  to  this  wise  advice  Sohrab  replied  passionately: 

"Alas,  good  old  Piran!  Canst  thou  not  understand 
that  I  wish  not  to  go  unto  my  father  empty-handed  ?  I  am 
so  proud  of  him,  and  with  reason  I  must  make  him  proud 
of  his  son  also.  For  are  we  not  of  the  same  noble  blood  ? 
And  see!  am  I  not  tall,  and  strong,  and  brave,  like  unto 
my  father  ?  Fear  not,  therefore,  for  truly  I  will  overcome 


SOHRAB  AGAINST  RUSTEM  233 

the  bravest  of  the  warriors  sent  out  by  the  Persians  to  meet 
me.  Then  surely  the  great  Rustem  will  hear  of  it  and 
I  shall  perhaps  meet  him." 

Now  though  Piran-Wisa  liked  not  the  plan,  yet  could  he 
not  withstand  Sohrab's  eloquent  pleading.  For  verily  who 
can  restrain  the  eagle  in  his  flight  toward  the  sun  ? 

Having  given  his  consent  unto  the  challenge,  therefore, 
the  old  general  summoned  unto  him  his  herald,  and 
taking  his  ruler's  staff  in  his  hand,  he  went  forth,  marshal- 
ling the  whole  Tartar  army  upon  the  plain.  Then  the 
Persians,  noting  this  move  of  the  enemy,  also  formed  into 
battle  array  opposite,  bright  in  burnished  steel  and  splen- 
did in  rank  upon  rank  of  brave  warriors. 

And  presently,  all  being  in  readiness,  Piran-Wisa  ad- 
vanced unto  the  front,  while  the  herald  blew  a  blast  upon 
his  trumpet  to  make  known  that  he  had  something  to 
say.  Then  silence,  deep  and  thrilling,  reigned  in  both 
great  armies  as  Piran,  in  ringing  tones,  offered  Sohrab's 
challenge. 

And  when  the  Tartar  host  heard  called  the  name  of 
their  champion,  behold,  they  rent  the  air  with  their  shouts, 
cheering  long  and  loud  for  Sohrab.  No  Persian,  they  felt 
sure,  could  match  their  gallant  young  leader,  who  now,  in 
all  the  pride  of  his  youth  and  strength,  advanced  and  stood 
by  Piran- Wisa's  side. 

But  alas!  unexpected  was  this  call  unto  the  Persians, 
and  as  a  consequence  deep  silence  reigned  within  the  lines 
of  Iran.  For  so  great  was  the  fear  of  Sohrab  that  no  man 
dared  take  up  the  challenge.  After  the  first  shock,  how- 
ever, from  mouth  to  mouth  there  was  breathed  the  one 
word:  Rustem!  Rustem!  So  quickly  Kaikous  sent  a  mes- 
senger unto  the  Great  Pehliva,  saying: 


234  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

"O  Mighty  One!  Come  quickly,  for  behold,  the  faces 
of  my  warriors  grow  pale  before  this  young  Tartar,  and 
only  thy  sword  can  cause  the  sun  to  weep." 

Now  when  Gudarz,  the  messenger,  entered  the  tent  of 
Rustem,  the  hero  rose  and  greeted  him  joyfully,  both 
hands  outstretched  in  welcome.  "These  eyes  could  see  no 
better  sight,"  he  cried;  and  added  quickly,  "What 
news?" 

Then  Gudarz  delivered  his  message,  hearing  which, 
Rustem  frowned,  for  he  remembered  the  bravery  of  the 
Shahs  of  Old,  and  the  cowardice  of  Kaikous  made  him 
sick  with  shame.  Nevertheless,  he  said  nothing,  being  too 
angry  for  words.  Whereupon,  Gudarz  continued: 

"Truly,  this  young  hero  is  marvellous!  and  this  time, 
Kaikous  is  not  to  be  condemned  for  his  terror.  For,  as 
I  live,  the  Champion  existeth  not  who  can  match  Sohrab 
— save  only  Rustem  the  Mighty,  unto  whom  all  eyes  turn." 

But  Rustem,  who  was  once  more  angered  at  Kaikous, 
replied  bitterly  unto  Gudarz: 

"If  the  Shah  himself  feareth  to  meet  this  young  lion, 
let  him  send  forth  any  one  of  the  young  striplings  whom 
he,  in  these  days,  delighteth  to  honor.  When  other  Shahs 
have  called  me,  it  hath  been  sometimes  unto  battle  and 
sometimes  unto  the  banquet,  but  behold,  Kaikous  never 
calleth  me  except  to  fight  for  him.  Therefore,  I  say,  let  one 
of  the  King's  favorites  meet  Sohrab  to-day;  I  will  fight  him 
to-morrow." 

Gudarz,  however,  would  not  listen  unto  Rustem  when 
he  spoke  thus  of  delay,  but  urged  him  even  as  he  had  upon 
another  great  occasion,  saying  unto  him: 

"Take  heed,  O  Mighty  One,  lest  men  say  that  thou 
fearest  to  peril  thy  fame  with  younger  men!" 


SOHRAB  AGAINST  RUSTEM  235 

Then  Rustem,  frowning  with  displeasure,  consented  to 
meet  the  Champion,  but  only  upon  condition  that  he  fight 
unknown  and  in  plain  arms.  So,  his  consent  being  won, 
the  hero  was  allowed  neither  to  linger  nor  to  waste  time 
in  words;  for  quickly  the  nobles  buckled  upon  him  his 
armor,  threw  his  leopard-skin  around  him,  saddled  Ra- 
kush  and  made  him  ready  for  the  strife.  Now  when  he  ap- 
peared among  the  Persians  they  greeted  him  with  mighty 
shouts  of  pride  and  joy,  causing  the  Tartars  to  wonder 
much  as  to  the  identity  of  this  stalwart  Champion  fighting 
in  plain  armor  and  giving  no  name. 

But  behold!  the  combatants  being  now  ready,  at  a 
signal  the  Persian  and  the  Tartar  hosts  formed  themselves 
into  two  long  lines,  down  which  the  two  great  Champions 
advanced  to  meet  each  other. 

Now  as  Rustem  moved  forward,  once  more  he  eyed 
with  wonder  the  slender  youth  who  dared  thus  to  defy  all 
the  most  valiant  chiefs  of  the  army.  Who  could  he  be? 
Where  was  he  reared?  What  was  there  about  him  so 
strangely  familiar?  As  he  gazed,  therefore,  suddenly  a 
great  pity  filled  his  soul  that  this  noble-spirited  youth,  so 
full  of  life  and  manly  beauty,  must  shortly  be  lying  upon 
the  sand,  his  life-blood  paying  the  penalty  for  his  temerity. 
Verily,  never  had  Rustem,  the  fierce  warrior,  felt  moved 
like  this  before,  and  so  he  spake  gently  unto  his  adversary, 
saying: 

"O  Young  Man,  the  air  of  heaven  is  soft  and  warm,  but 
the  grave  is  damp  and  cold.  Wherefore,  then,  wilt  thou 
rush  upon  death?  Truly  pity  filleth  my  soul  at  the  thought, 
and  I  would  not  take  from  thee  the  boon  of  life.  Yet  if  we 
combat  together,  surely  wilt  thou  fall  by  my  hands,  for 
behold!  I  am  vast  and  clad  in  iron,  and  tried,  and  none 


236  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

have  been  able  to  withstand  my  power — neither  man,  nor 
Deev,  nor  dragon.  Desist,  therefore,  from  this  perilous 
enterprise,  and  come  over  unto  Iran.  Then  shalt  thou  be 
as  a  son  unto  me,  and  fight  beneath  my  banner  while  I  live, 
winning  both  honor  and  fame." 

So  spake  Rustem,  and  Sohrab,  listening  unto  his  voice, 
and  gazing  upon  his  mighty  form,  planted  like  a  great 
tower  upon  the  plain,  felt  his  heart  go  out  unto  him 
strangely.  And,  a  sudden  hope  filling  his  soul,  eagerly  he 
ran  forward,  knelt  before  the  hero,  and  gazing  up  at  him 
wistfully,  said: 

"O  Glory  of  the  World,  verily  my  heart  leapeth  forth  to 
greet  thee  as  unto  a  loved  kinsman!  Tell  unto  me,  there- 
fore, thy  name,  for  it  seemeth  unto  me  that  thou  must  be 
Rustem,  the  mighty  son  of  White-haired  Zal.  For  surely 
unto  none  other  is  it  given  to  be  so  gloriously  perfect  as 
thou!" 

But  Rustem,  misunderstanding  Sohrab's  ardor,  replied 
coldly  unto  him,  saying: 

"Rash  Boy!  Men  look  upon  Rustem's  face  and  flee. 
And  well  I  know  that  if  that  mighty  hero  stood  here  to- 
day, then  would  there  be  no  further  talk  of  fighting.  But, 
unfortunately  for  thy  pride,  thou  hast  now  to  do  with  no 
noble  Pehliva,  but  with  a  comman  man,  possessing  neither 
throne,  nor  palace,  nor  crown." 

Now  Rustem  spake  thus  sternly  unto  the  youth  that  he 
might  be  afraid  when  he  beheld  his  prowess,  and  think 
that  still  greater  might  was  hidden  in  the  camp  of  the 
Persians. 

But  Sohrab,  when  he  heard  the  words  of  Rustem,  was 
sad,  and  his  hopes,  that  had  risen  so  high  as  he  beheld  his 
mighty  antagonist,  were  shattered.  Yea,  and  the  day  that 


SOHRAB  AGAINST  RUSTEM  237 

had  looked  so  bright  was  made  dark  unto  his  eyes.  How- 
beit,  hiding  his  disappointment,  with  flashing  eyes  he 
replied  unto  Rustem: 

"Fierce  Warrior!  Thinkest  thou  to  terrify  me  by  thy 
proud  words?  If  so,  verily  thou  errest.  Now  it  is  true 
that  thou  art  more  vast  and  tried  than  I,  but  unto  whom 
will  be  the  victory  only  the  event  will  teach  us  in  its  hour. 
Yet  in  one  thing,  I  give  thee  right:  Did  Rustem  stand 
where  thou  art  standing  now,  then,  indeed,  would  there  be 
no  combat  here  to-day.  But  come!  Let  us  not  parley 
words." 

So  the  two  Champions  chose  a  narrow  place,  marked 
out  the  lists,  and  mounted  upon  their  powerful  steeds, 
ready  for  the  combat.  Now  they  began  the  attack  by 
hurling  their  javelins;  and  when  they  were  blunted  against 
the  steel  bucklers  they  drew  their  long  Indian  swords  and 
fell  to  work  again.  And  behold,  when  their  swords  were 
broken,  then  they  used  their  clubs.  Terrible  blows  they 
dealt  each  other  with  these  implements  of  war  and  great 
was  the  skill  and  agility  with  which  they  fought,  calling 
forth  many  a  shout  of  admiration  from  the  breathlessly- 
watching  armies. 

Nevertheless,  they  seemed  to  be  about  equally  matched 
in  wariness,  skill,  and  strength.  For,  though  Rustem's 
eye  shot  fire  as  he  raised  high  his  spear  and  hurled  it  down 
with  swift,  unerring  aim,  quick  as  a  flash  Sohrab  sprang 
to  one  side,  and  the  spear  buried  itself  deep  in  the  sand, 
doing  naught  of  harm.  In  return  for  this,  however,  Soh- 
rab struck  full  upon  Rustem's  shield,  so  that  the  iron  rang 
and  rang  again.  Then  Rustem,  furious,  seized  his  gigantic 
club,  which  no  one  but  himself  could  wield,  and  with  one 
mighty  stroke  would  have  felled  Sohrab  to  the  earth,  had 


238  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

he  not  again  been  too  quick  for  him  in  springing  aside. 
But  alas!  the  club  came  thundering  down  with  such  pro- 
digious force  that  it  caused  Rustem  himself  to  fall  for- 
ward and  loose  his  hold  upon  it.  And  behold!  in  an  in- 
stant, Sohrab  could  have  pierced  the  fallen  hero  where  he 
lay.  But  instead  he  drew  back,  without  even  unsheath- 
ing his  sword,  saying  unto  his  unknown  foe: 

"O  Mighty  One!  Thou  sayest  thou  art  not  Rustem. 
(Veil,  be  it  so!  But  who  art  thou,  then,  that  thou  canst  so 
touch  my  soul  ?  I  pray  thee,  let  the  fight  end  here,  and  let 
there  be  peace  twixt  thee  and  me." 

But  Rustem,  trembling  with  rage  and  fury,  would  not 
hearken  unto  the  words  of  Sohrab;  rather,  they  increased 
his  wrath  and  shame.  For  it  was,  indeed,  bitter  for  the  old 
Champion  to  think  that  he  owed  his  life  unto  this  slight, 
sunny  youth.  So,  again  seizing  his  spear,  with  taunting, 
bitter  words  he  rushed  upon  Sohrab,  attacking  him  with 
renewed  vigor.  Then  Sohrab  saw  that  this  fight  must  be 
to  the  death,  and  he,  too,  allowed  the  lust  of  conquest  to 
take  full  possession  of  his  soul. 

Falling  to  again,  therefore,  behold,  the  heroes  fought 
until  their  spears  were  shivered,  and  their  swords  hacked 
like  unto  saws,  and  all  their  weapons  were  bent  and  broken. 
Even  then,  however,  they  did  not  desist,  but  wrestled  with 
each  other  until  the  sweat  and  blood  ran  down  from  their 
bodies  and  their  throats  were  parched  and  dry  like  unto 
parchment.  But  at  last  so  weary  were  they  that  neither 
the  warriors  nor  their  horses  could  move  more,  yet  to 
neither  was  given  the  victory.  So,  with  mail  shattered  and 
torn,  and  with  bruised  and  wounded  bodies,  the  exhausted 
heroes  stayed  them  awhile  to  rest.  Then  Rustem  said 
unto  himself: 


They  drew  their  long  Indian  swords  and  fell  to  work  again. 


SOHRAB  AGAINST  RUSTEM  239 

"Verily,  never  in  all  my  long  life  of  battle  have  I  seen 
man  or  demon  with  such  strength  and  activity  as  is  pos- 
sessed by  this  redoubtable  Sohrab!  Why,  even  my  great 
battle  with  the  White  Deev  was  but  as  child's  play  unto 
this,  and  though  never  yet  have  I  been  conquered,  alas, 
now  my  heart  faileth  me  before  this  youth  without  a 
name!" 

But  Sohrab,  when  he  had  rested  for  a  few  minutes, 
thus  gaily  addressed  his  antagonist: 

"Ho,  Angry  One!  when  thou  art  rested,  come  and  try 
if  thou  canst  fight  with  bow  and  arrow." 

So  presently  the  Champions  fell  to  again,  fighting  with 
arrows;  but  still  one  could  not  surpass  the  other,  though 
they  rained  from  their  bows  like  hail.  Then,  in  despera- 
tion, Rustem  seized  Sohrab  by  the  belt,  hoping  to  drag 
him  from  his  saddle,  as  he  had  done  unto  many  a  hero  in 
battle.  But  alas!  it  availed  him  naught.  For  as  soon 
could  a  mountain  be  moved  from  its  base  as  Sohrab  from 
his  saddle.  And  neither  could  Sohrab  lift  his  antagonist, 
though  mightily  he  strove  to  perform  this  feat  of  strength. 

So,  being  thus  unsuccessful  both  with  arrows  and  in  wrest- 
ling, once  more  the  champions  betook  themselves  to  clubs, 
and  after  a  time  Sohrab  succeeded  in  dealing  Rustem 
a  mighty  blow  that  bruised  his  shoulder.  Now  so  great 
was  the  agony  that  Rustem  writhed  under  it,  though  he 
was  strong  enough  to  stifle  any  cry  of  pain.  Nevertheless, 
Sohrab  saw  that  he  had  struck  a  telling  blow,  and,  smiling, 
he  taunted  the  wounded  one,  saying: 

"O  Smitten  Lion!  Truly  thou  art  brave,  but  how 
canst  thou  hope  to  stand  against  the  blows  of  the  strong  ? 
But  alas!  it  is  thy  age  that  disableth  thee.  Go,  therefore, 
and  measure  thy  strength  with  thy  equals,  for  verily  it  is 


240  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

folly  for  the  aged  to  try  to  match  themselves  with  the 
young  and  strong." 

Now  so  furious  was  Rustem  at  the  taunts  of  Sohrab 
that,  in  his  frenzy,  he  turned  suddenly  upon  the  army  of 
the  Tartars,  charging  its  ranks  even  as  a  tiger  rusheth  upon 
his  prey.  And  behold!  when  Sohrab  saw  this,  he  in  his 
turn,  fell  upon  the  Persians,  scattering  them  like  a  flock 
of  sheep  before  him.  Whereupon,  Rustem,  beholding  the 
flight  of  his  countrymen,  turned  quickly  from  pursuing  the 
Tartars,  crying  fiercely  unto  Sohrab: 

"  O  Man  of  Blood !  Why  hast  thou  fallen  upon  the  Per- 
sians like  a  wolf  upon  the  fold?" 

Turning  in  astonishment,  therefore,  at  this  most  sur- 
prising question,  Sohrab  said: 

"Thou  Mad  Elephant!  Didst  not  thou,  thyself,  first 
charge  the  Tartar  host,  though  they  had  not  joined  in 
battle?  Wherefore,  then,  reproach  me?" 

Now  Sohrab  was  still  gay  and  unruffled,  and  Rustem's 
heart  sank  as  he  beheld  how  fresh  and  full  of  vigor  was 
this  laughing  stripling,  for  all  the  hard  day's  fight.  So  he 
said: 

" Behold!  night  descendeth  upon  the  plain.  It  is  too 
late,  therefore,  to  renew  the  combat  to-day.  If  thou  art 
still  for  war,  however,  we  will  fight  again  to-morrow,  and 
God  shall  decide  who  is  the  better  man." 

So,  by  mutual  consent,  the  heroes  now  separated,  each 
riding  back  to  his  own  army,  where  they  were  received 
with  shouts  of  admiration,  which  rang  and  rang  again. 
But,  strange  to  say,  it  was  Sohrab's  gay  farewell  that  rang 
longest  in  Rustem's  ears,  for  his  soul  was  filled  with  won- 
der and  admiration  at  the  lightness  and  strength  of  this 
mavellous  youth.  Seeking  Kaikous,  therefore,  who  was 


SOHRAB  AGAINST  RUSTEM  241 

all  unnerved  by  the  day's  conflict,  in  reply  to  his  eager 
questions  Rustem  said: 

"  O  Lord  of  the  World,  truly  my  heart  misgiveth  me,  for 
never  during  my  long  life  have  I  witnessed  such  over- 
whelming valor  as  hath  been  exhibited  this  day  by  yon 
laughing  boy,  whose  body,  I  should  say,  was  formed  of 
iron,  were  it  not  for  his  remarkable  lightness.  For  behold! 
I  have  fought  him  with  sword,  and  spear,  and  arrow,  and 
mace — not  only  once,  but  again  and  again — and  yet  re- 
maineth  he  alive  and  merry.  In  the  warrior's  art  he  ap- 
peareth  to  be  my  superior,  and  Ormuzd  alone  knoweth 
what  will  be  the  outcome  of  the  conflict  to-morrow.  May 
he  grant  unto  his  servant  sufficient  strength  and  courage 
for  the  hour!" 

Now  after  his  conference  with  the  Shah,  Rustem  re- 
turned unto  his  tent,  where  he  held  serious  converse  with 
Zuara,  his  young  brother,  saying  unto  him : 

"O  my  brother!  Behold,  it  hath  been  given  unto  me 
to  fight  this  day  with  a  champion,  the  power  of  whose  arm 
is  prodigious!  I  say  unto  thee,  therefore,  that  should 
anything  untoward  happen  upon  the  morrow  when  the 
conflict  is  renewed,  verily  it  will  fall  unto  thee  to  see  that 
my  army  is  returned  in  safety  unto  Zabulistan.  And 
thou  must  also  console  my  mother  in  her  sorrow,  bid- 
ding her  not  to  bind  her  heart  forever  unto  the  dead, 
since  her  son  hath  no  cause  to  complain  of  fate.  And 
say  unto  Zal,  my  silver-crowned  father,  that  since  old 
and  young  must  die,  what  mattereth  it  if  it  be  written 
in  the  stars  that  only  another  sun  shall  shine  for  Rus- 
tem, since  he  hath  lived  long  and  fought  gloriously  for 
Iran!" 

Meanwhile,  in  the  camp  of  the  Tartars,  Sohrab,  also, 


242  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

lauded  the  might  of  his  unknown  antagonist,  saying  unto 
Human: 

"Alas,  Brave  Human!  Though  I  understand  it  not, 
truly  my  heart  is  strangely  drawn  unto  the  mighty  warrior 
with  whom  I  have  fought  this  day.  I  seem  to  see  in  him, 
too,  all  the  signs  by  which  my  mother  told  me  I  was  to 
recognize  my  father,  and  my  heart  is  filled  with  misgivings. 
Verily,  I  must  not  fight  against  my  father!" 

But  Human,  following  the  directions  of  the  King,  re- 
plied unto  Sohrab: 

"O  Glory  of  the  World!  Naught  but  the  longings  of 
thine  own  heart  give  credence  unto  thy  words.  Now  oft 
have  I  looked  upon  the  face  of  Rustem  in  battle,  and  mine 
eyes  have  beheld  his  deeds  of  valor,  but  alas!  this  man  in 
nowise  resembleth  him,  save  in  bulk  alone.  Neither  is  his 
horse  the  famous  Rakush;  nor  is  his  manner  of  wielding 
his  club  the  same.  In  fostering  this  thought,  thy  imagina- 
tion carrieth  thee  away." 

Now  though  Sohrab  suspected  not  the  plot  which  Afra- 
siab  had  formed  for  his  destruction,  yet  was  he  not  wholly 
satisfied  with  Human's  words.  Howbeit,  as  he  could 
not  refute  them,  he  held  his  peace.  And  that  night,  also, 
feasted  he  gaily  with  his  chiefs. 

Nevertheless,  when  the  harbinger  of  a  new  day  had  light- 
ened the  sky  and  cleared  away  the  shadows,  behold,  Sohrab 
donned  his  cuirass  and  his  helmet  and,  arming  himself, 
mounted  his  horse  and  rode  into  the  space  between  the 
two  armies.  Then  Rustem,  beholding  his  antagonist,  also 
rode  out  from  among  the  Persians. 

So  once  more  the  champions  met,  and  behold,  as 
Sohrab  greeted  Rustem  his  mouth  was  full  of  smiles,  for 
how  could  it  be  otherwise  when  his  heart  was  as  full  of 


SOHRAB  AGAINST  RUSTEM  243 

sunshine  as  the  new  Eastern  day  with  light?  Gaily, 
therefore,  he  said  unto  the  Pehliva: 

"Ah,  let  us  not  fight  to-day,  Old  Dragon!  for  as  soon 
would  I  combat  with  my  own  father  as  with  thee.  Rather, 
let  us  sit  together  upon  the  ground,  and  thou  shalt  relate 
unto  me  thy  deeds  of  valor.  For  verily  my  soul  delighteth 
in  heroic  tales — as  my  mother  could  say  unto  thee — and 
thy  life  hath  been  full  of  them,  I  know.  Yea,  if  I  mistake 
not,  even  the  great  Rustem,  thy  countryman,  canst  thou 
rival  in  thy  thrilling  adventures  and  conquests,  and  much 
I  should  like  to  hear  them.  As  for  combat,  there  are 
plenty  of  other  brave  men  with  whom  thou  canst  do  battle, 
but  with  me,  I  pray  thee,  make  a  covenant  of  friendship, 
for  my  heart  sayeth  unto  me  that  we  were  not  meant  to  be 
foes. 

But  Rustem,  who  still  thought  that  Sohrab  spake  in 
guile,  replied  unto  him: 

"O  Hero  of  Tender  Age!  Behold,  we  are  met  here  to 
fight,  and  not  to  blow  forth  empty  wind  upon  the  air. 
Save  thy  words  of  lure,  therefore,  for  "  other  brave  men,"  if 
perchance  thou  livest  to  meet  them  in  battle;  for  verily 
my  ears  are  sealed  against  them.  As  for  me,  I  am  an  old 
man,  and  thou  art  young,  but  forget  not  that  it  is  the 
Master  of  the  World  who  holdeth  the  balance  in  his 
hands." 

Then  Sohrab,  rising  lightly  unto  his  feet,  said: 

"Old  Champion,  I  see  I  have  spoken  in  vain,  and  it 
grieveth  me.  Now  I  would  have  had  thee  die  upon  thy 
bed,  when  thy  time  should  come,  but  behold!  thou  art 
brave  enough  to  prefer  a  hero's  death.  Well,  so  be  it!  at 
least  thou  shalt  die  gloriously,  after  the  fight  of  thy  life — 
and  what  can  even  the  beloved  of  Ormuzd  ask  more?" 


244  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

So  once  more  the  two  champions  prepared  for  combat. 
And — this  time  we  are  informed — the  place  of  contest  was  in 
the  centre  of  a  lonely,  treeless  plain,  through  which  coursed 
a  deep,  winding  river.  Yea,  and  gloomy  gray  mountains 
skirted  the  distant  horizon,  so  that,  in  spite  of  the  brilliant 
Eastern  sunshine,  it  was  a  scene  of  dreariness  and  mystic 
solitude.  For,  to  prevent  the  two  armies  from  falling  upon 
each  other  in  the  excitement  of  the  conflict,  the  chiefs  had 
removed  them  to  a  distance  of  several  miles  from  the  scene 
of  battle,  so  that  the  two  champions  were  the  only  living 
figures  upon  the  plain. 

Now  as  the  combat  was  to  be  renewed  upon  foot,  the 
two  heroes  fastened  their  steeds  unto  the  rocks,  and  then, 
clad  in  complete  mail,  they  approached  each  other  stealth- 
ily, and  in  diminishing  circles,  each  watching  for  the 
chance  to  pounce  like  a  lion  upon  his  foe.  And  behold! 
when  the  two  champions  met,  so  terrific  was  the  crash  of 
their  encounter  that  it  was  heard,  like  thunder,  from  end 
to  end  of  the  standing  hosts.  And  then,  so  terrible  was  the 
fight  that  even  the  sun  refused  to  shine  upon  so  unnatural 
a  conflict;  and  the  heavens,  too,  grew  dark  and  lowering, 
as  though  in  sore  displeasure;  and  the  wind  rose,  moaning 
and  sweeping  the  plain  in  anger. 

But  still  the  heroes  fought  on — unconscious  of  the  frown 
of  nature — from  morning  until  noonday.  Yea,  and  from 
noonday  until  it  was  time  for  the  shadows  to  lengthen  upon 
the  plain.  Yet  unto  neither  was  given  the  advantage. 

Presently,  however,  Sohrab's  shield  was  almost  cloven 
by  a  terrific  stroke  from  Rustem's  sword.  The  iron  plating 
flew,  but,  fortunately,  the  good  steel  yet  resisted.  Then 
Sohrab,  with  his  sword,  smote  off  the  proudly-waving  crest 
of  Rustem's  helm — that  plume  which  never  yet  had  bowed 


SOHRAB  AGAINST  RUSTEM  245 

unto  the  dust;  seeing  which,  Rustem  clenched  his  teeth 
— and  still  they  fought  on! 

And  now  the  gloom  grew  blacker,  angry  storm  clouds 
rumbling  overhead;  but  the  fierce  combatants  heard  it  not. 
Then,  quite  suddenly,  Rakush  the  intelligent  put  forth 
a  fearful  cry — a  cry  so  unearthly,  so  full  of  woe,  that  a 
shiver  ran  through  all  the  Persian  lines.  But  it  troubled 
not  the  combatants,  for,  unconscious  of  it,  still  they  fought 
on! 

Howbeit,  presently  leaping  like  a  lion,  Sohrab  seized  Rus- 
tem by  the  girdle,  lifted  him  from  the  ground,  and  hurled 
him  down,  his  face  and  mouth  buried  deep  in  the  dust. 
Then  he  couched  upon  him — yea,  even  as  a  beast  of  the 
jungle  coucheth  upon  its  prey!  Yea,  and  he  drew  his 
sword,  thinking  to  sever  his  enemy's  head — even  as  was 
the  Oriental  custom.  But  at  thft  crisis,  Rustem,  gifted 
with  the  wisdom  and  cunning  of  long  experience,  realizing 
his  peril,  opened  his  mouth  and  said  unto  Sohrab: 

"Stay,  thou  Wild  Elephant!  Knowest  thou  not  the 
customs  of  chivalrous  warfare?  Now  it  is  written  in  the 
laws  of  honor  that  he  who  overthroweth  a  brave  man  for 
the  first  time  shall  not  destroy  him,  but  wait  until  the 
second  throw  when  usage  entitleth  the  victor  honorably 
to  take  the  life  of  the  vanquished.  Behold!  this  is  our 
custom  though  it  appeareth  not  to  be  thine." 

Alas!  Sohrab,  who  was  as  generous  of  heart  as  he  was 
brave,  hearing  the  words  of  Rustem,  immediately  re- 
moved his  grasp  from  the  Hero,  and  permitting  him  to  rise, 
agreed  to  a  short  truce. 

As  for  Rustem,  scarcely  believing  himself  alive  after 
such  a  narrow  escape,  gratefully  he  returned  thanks  unto 
Ormuzd,  looking  upon  it  as  nothing  short  of  a  miracle. 


246  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Then,  having  bathed  his  limbs,  covered  with  dust  and 
blood,  in  the  river,  he  readjusted  his  torn  armor,  and  sat 
him  down  to  rest,  wondering  how  this  desperate  duel 
would  finally  end. 

But  no  such  misgivings  troubled  Sohrab  as  he  rested. 
Nor  was  he  alone;  for  Human,  beholding  the  truce,  came 
out  unto  the  Hero  to  ask  of  the  adventures  of  the  day. 
When  Sohrab  related  unto  him  of  the  fight,  however,  and 
of  how  he  had  spared  Rustem,  Human  reproached  him 
for  his  folly,  saying: 

"Alas,  O  Sohrab!  The  lion  whom  thou  so  unwisely 
released  from  thy  toils  hath  caught  thee  in  a  yet  more  cun- 
ning snare.  Beware,  therefore,  when  the  combat  is  re- 
newed, for  Fortune  rarely  giveth  us  twice  the  opportunity  to 
overcome  our  foes.  And  only  think  what  an  enemy  is  this ! " 

Now  Sohrab  was  abashed  when  he  learned  how  that 
Rustem  had  duped  him.  But,  hiding  his  chagrin,  he  said 
lightly  unto  Human: 

"Brave  Human,  be  not  troubled,  for  in  an  hour  we 
meet  again  in  battle,  and  though  twice  I  have  shown  mercy 
unto  this  old  warrior,  a  third  time  shall  it  not  happen,  for 
now  all  the  demands  of  honor  have  been  met." 

Now  while  Sohrab  and  the  Tartar  chief  thus  spake  of 
Rustem,  behold,  the  Hero  himself  had  gone  aside,  and  kneel- 
ing beside  the  running  brook,  he  prayed  unto  Ormuzd, 
entreating  that  such  strength  be  granted  unto  him  that 
victory  should  crown  his  final  efforts.  Yea,  and  the  All- 
Merciful  One  heard  the  cry  of  his  troubled  child,  granting 
unto  him  such  increased  strength  that  lo!  the  rock  whereon 
he  knelt  gave  way  beneath  him,  because  it  had  not  power 
to  bear  his  weight.  Then  Rustem,  feeling  that  too  much 
strength  might  prove  his  undoing,  prayed  yet  again  asking 


SOHRAB  AGAINST  RUSTEM  247 

that  part  thereof  be  taken  away.  And  again  Ormuzd 
listened  unto  his  voice. 

So,  rested  and  reinspired,  when  the  hour  was  ended, 
once  more  the  champions  turned  them  unto  the  place  of 
combat,  determined  to  bring  the  awful  struggle  to  a  close 
ere  another  night  set  in.  Now  Rustem's  heart,  in  spite  of 
his  increased  strength,  was  full  of  care;  but  Sohrab  came 
forth  like  a  giant  refreshed.  Running  at  Rustem  like  a 
mad  elephant,  therefore,  he  shouted  in  a  voice  of  thunder: 

"Ho,  Wily  One!  Prepare  to  meet  thy  end.  For  this 
time  thy  words  of  guile  shall  avail  thee  naught." 

Now  Rustem,  when  he  saw  the  rage  of  the  hitherto 
laughing  young  stripling,  learned  at  last  to  know  fear,  and 
in  his  heart  he  quickly  prayed  unto  Ormuzd,  asking  that 
the  strength  withdrawn  be  restored  unto  him.  Then,  im- 
bued with  all  his  new-found  might,  Rustem  raised  high 
his  head,  his  eyes  glaring  with  the  wild  light  of  battle,  his 
sword  brandished  on  high.  So  for  a  second  he  stood,  after 
which,  with  a  terrible  roar,  he  advanced  upon  Sohrab, 
instinctively  shouting  his  old,  thunderous  battle-cry: 
"Rustem!  Rustem!" 

Alas  for  Sohrab!  Stopped  midway  in  his  charge  by  the 
sound  of  that  much-loved  name,  for  one  fateful  second,  he 
gazed,  bewildered,  then  instinctively  he  recoiled,  dropping 
his  shield,  thus  leaving  himself  uncovered.  Quick  as  a 
flash,  therefore,  Rustem  drew  his  blade,  and  drove  it  with 
mighty  force  through  the  breast  of  the  youthful  hero  who, 
staggering  back,  sank  heavily  to  the  ground.  And  now, 
the  awful  din  of  arms  being  hushed,  behold,  the  sun  shone 
forth  once  more  from  between  the  parted  thunder-clouds, 
revealing  a  fierce  warrior  standing  triumphant  over  his 
fallen  foe! 


248  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

And  alas  that  it  must  be  said!  but  as  Rustem  gazed 
upon  the  prostrate  young  hero,  not  one  drop  of  pity  filled 
his  heart;  for  the  black  shadow  of  defeat  and  humiliation 
yet  hovered  too  near  unto  him  to  allow  aught  but  bitter- 
ness and  anger  to  rule  his  soul.  Wrathfully,  therefore,  he 
said  unto  Sohrab: 

"Foolish  boy!  In  thy  pride  thou  thoughtest  to  slay  a 
Persian  hero  this  day  and  boast  thy  trophy  in  Afrasiab's 
land.  Now  here  thou  liest,  slain  by  an  unknown  man." 

Now  Rustem  spake  thus  because,  having  been  so  nearly 
o'ercome  by  this  valorous  youth,  after  all  his  proud  years 
of  triumph,  in  his  bitter  mortification  he  fain  would  have 
deprived  him  of  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  by  whose  hand 
he  had  fallen.  Alas!  a  small  feeling  was  this  to  find  its 
way  into  the  heart  of  so  great  a  hero,  and  bitterly  was 
Rustem  to  repent  it. 

For,  though  wounded  unto  death,  behold,  Sohrab  was 
still  unconquered.  Looking  up  fearlessly  into  the  eyes  of 
his  foe,  therefore,  he  said  proudly: 

"Vain  boaster!  Vaunt  not  thy  mighty  prowess,  for  not 
thy  puny  strength  hath  slain  me.  Nay;  Rustem  slays  me! 
For  that  loved  name  it  was  unnerved  my  arm,  and  so  thy 
boasted  spear  pierced  an  unarmed  foe.  But  hear  me  now, 
fierce  man,  and  tremble.  For  behold !  Rustem,  my  father, 
whom  I  seek  through  all  the  world,  will  surely  avenge  my 
death — though  I,  alas,  shall  never  see  him  now !  When  he 
learneth  of  my  doom,  however,  beware!  For  if  thou 
shouldst  become  a  fish  and  lose  thyself  in  the  depths  of  the 
sea,  or  a  star  to  hide  thyself  in  the  highest  heaven,  verily 
my  father  would  draw  thee  forth  from  thy  hiding-place  to 
wreak  vengeance  upon  thy  head.  Ah,  how  his  heart  will 
be  filled  with  wrath  and  sorrow  when  it  shall  be  told  unto 


SOHRAB  AGAINST  RUSTEM  249 

him  that  Sohrab,  his  son,  perished  in  the  quest  after  his 
face!" 

Now  Rustem  listened  unto  the  words  of  Sohrab  coldly, 
gazing  upon  him  with  scornful,  unbelieving  eyes.  And  he 
said: 

"O  vanquished  youth!  Verily,  thou  wanderest  in  thy 
talk.  The  mighty  Rustem  never  had  a  son.  Now  of  this 
I  am  sure,  for  am  I  not  a  Persian?" 

But  Sohrab  answered  still  proudly,  though  his  voice 
had  grown  faint  and  hoarse.  And  he  said: 

"Stubborn  Crocodile  !  The  son  of  Rustem  am  I,  and 
none  other,  and  when  one  day  the  news  of  my  death  shall 
reach  him,  it  will  pierce  him  like  a  stab.  And  alas,  my 
poor  mother!  what  will  be  her  grief  when  she  shall  learn 
that  never  again  shall  Sohrab  return  unto  his  native  land! 
For  well  she  knoweth  that  her  son  sped  not  for  empty 
glory  forth  from  far  Samengan,  but  to  seek  his  father,  lest 
he  perish  with  longing  after  him.  And  now  it  is  all  in 
vain!" 

Now,  though  still  unbelieving,  Rustem  could  not  but 
be  touched  by  Sohrab' s  grief.  For,  as  he  gazed  at  the 
youthful  hero,  so  full  of  strength  and  manly  beauty,  slain, 
alas,  by  his  hand  in  the  morning  of  life,  he  could  not  but 
regret  this  waste  of  precious  life.  So,  very  gently  he  spake 
unto  Sohrab.  And  he  said: 

" O  Valiant  One!  Well  might  Rustem  be  proud  of  such 
a  son.  Nevertheless,  men  have  told  thee  false.  For  well 
I  know  that  the  Great  Pehliva  never  had  but  one  child — 
and  that  a  girl,  who  dwelleth  afar  with  her  mother,  and 
dreameth  not  of  war  and  its  cruelties." 

Alas!  the  anguish  of  Sohrab's  wound  was  growing  great, 
so  that  he  longed  to  pull  out  the  sword  and  end  his  pain. 


250  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

But  Rustem's  unbelief  angered  him,  and  he  resolved  first 
to  convince  his  stubborn  foe.  So  he  said  wrathfully: 

"Thou  Great  Persian  Ox!  Who  are  thou  that  thou 
darest  to  deny  my  words?  Knowest  thou  not  that  truth 
sitteth  upon  the  lips  of  dying  men  ?  I  tell  thee  that  bound 
upon  this  arm  I  bear  the  amulet  of  the  house  of  Zal,  which 
Rustem  gave  my  mother.  Men  may  have  told  thee  false, 
but  surely  my  mother  knoweth  whereof  she  speaketh,  and 
the  story  had  I  from  her  own  lips." 

Alas  for  the  Great  Rustem!  When  he  heard  these 
words  he  was  shaken  with  dismay.  Nevertheless,  he  said 
quietly  unto  Sohrab: 

"Bare  thy  arm,  Stripling,  for  if  thou  canst  show  this 
token,  that  were  proof,  indeed,  that  thou  art  Rustem's 
son." 

So,  with  trembling  fingers,  Sohrab  bared  his  shoulder, 
and  there  upon  his  arm  Rustem  beheld  the  amulet  which 
he  had  given  unto  Tamineh  so  long  ago.  Now  as  he  gazed, 
lo,  there  broke  from  the  heart  of  the  Hero  a  terrible  cry  of 
anguish,  after  which,  suddenly,  the  earth  became  dark 
unto  his  eyes,  and  he  fell  in  a  swoon  beside  his  valiant  son. 

And  behold!  hearing  this  groan  of  horrible  heart-break, 
Sohrab  knew  at  last  that  the  unknown  warrior  was  none 
other  than  his  long-sought  father,  Rustem  the  Mighty. 
So,  though  fierce  was  the  pain  of  his  wound,  Sohrab  man- 
aged finally  to  reach  the  place  where  Rustem  lay,  pillow- 
ing his  head  upon  his  knee.  Yea,  and  he  bathed  his  face 
with  tears,  whispering  unto  him  fond  words  of  endearment, 
trying  thus  to  coax  him  back  to  life. 

But  alas!  When  Rustem  opened  his  eyes  once  more,  it 
was  upon  a  world  of  woe  and  anguish.  In  his  agony  of 
spirit,  therefore,  he  rent  his  clothes,  and  tore  his  hair,  and 


SOHRAB  AGAINST  RUSTEM  251 

beat  upon  his  breast,  moaning  and  crying  in  his  terrible 
sorrow : 

"O  my  son  whom  I  have  slain!  My  son  so  young  and 
brave  and  beautiful!  Would  that  my  name  had  been 
struck  from  the  lists  of  men  ere  I  had  done  this  cruel  deed. 
But  behold!  one  grave  shall  suffice  for  father  and  son,  for 
no  longer  will  I  cumber  the  earth." 

Now  so  speaking,  Rustem  clutched  his  sword,  and 
would  have  slain  himself  had  not  Sohrab  stayed  his  hand, 
saying: 

"Father,  forbear!  For  truly,  not  thou,  but  Fate  is 
responsible  for  this  woful  happening.  Ah,  how  our  hearts 
cried  out  one  unto  the  other!  and  how  we  should  have 
joyed  together!  But  alas!  it  hath  been  decreed  other- 
wise by  Him  who  changeth  not.  Weep  not,  therefore,  and 
do  thyself  no  harm,  for  what  is  written  in  the  stars,  shall 
it  not  come  to  pass?  And  listen!  In  spite  of  all,  a  great 
joy  hath  come  unto  Sohrab — for  doth  he  not  behold  thy 
face?  O  my  father,  so  brave  and  splendid,  how  I  have 
longed  to  see  thee!  Come,  sit  beside  me  on  the  sand,  there- 
fore, and  hold  me  fast.  Yea,  take  my  head  between  thy 
hands,  and  kiss  me  on  the  cheek,  murmuring,  just  once, 
the  tender  words:  'My  son!  My  valiant  son!'  Quick! 
for  my  life  is  ebbing  fast." 

Then  Rustem,  weeping,  cast  his  arms  about  his  son, 
murmuring  unto  him  broken  words  of  praise  and  anguish. 
And  Sohrab  was  content,  for  had  he  not  his  heart's  desire? 
So,  still  he  lay,  and  naught  disturbed  the  oppressive  silence 
save  only  Rustem's  heart-breaking  cries  of  woe. 

But  behold!  The  father's  sad  lament  reached  and 
caused  distress  unto  other  ears  than  those  of  quiet  Soh- 
rab. For  Rakush,  hearing  his  master's  plaintive  voice, 


252  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

whinnied  back  unto  him  distressfully,  knowing  not  what 
to  think.  Then,  as  Rustem  came  not  unto  him,  presently, 
after  many  brave  tugs,  he  tore  up  the  rock  unto  which  he 
was  fastened,  and  hastened,  as  fast  as  his  burden  would 
allow,  unto  his  master's  side.  But  alas!  in  his  terrible 
grief,  stricken  Rustem  had  only  words  of  chiding  for  his 
devoted  steed,  saying  unto  him: 

"O  Rakush!  Rakush!  Verily,  thy  feet  should  have 
rotted  in  thy  joints  before  ever  they  bare  thy  master  to 
this  field." 

Now  at  this  outburst,  Sohrab  raised  his  head,  gazing 
with  bright  eyes  at  the  great  charger,  whose  joys  and  sor- 
rows were  so  closely  bound  up  with  those  of  his  master. 
And  much  he  wondered  to  see  the  big,  warm  tears  roll 
down  from  the  soft,  compassionate  eyes  of  drooping  Ra- 
kush. Smiling  gently,  therefore,  he  said  unto  him: 

"So  thou  art  really  Rakush!  Ah,  how  oft  have  I  heard 
my  mother  tell  of  thee,  thou  faithful,  loving  steed!  And 
how  I  envy  thee!  For  thou  hast  been  where  I  shall  never 
go — even  unto  far-off  Seistan,  my  father's  sunny  home. 
There  White-haired  Zal  himself  hath  stroked  thy  arching 
neck,  and  given  thee  food,  and  bidden  thee  bear  thy  mas- 
ter well.  But  alas!  Sohrab  will  never  see  his  grandsire's 
charming  home,  nor  hear  his  voice  in  greeting." 

Thus  spake  the  dying  Sohrab,  and  Rustem,  hearing  his 
sorrowful  plaint,  brake  forth  afresh  in  woe,  refusing  to  be 
comforted.  And  he  cried: 

"  Oh,  that  I  were  dead,  and  the  waves  of  yon  dark  river 
rolling  peacefully  over  me!  For  never  shall  I  know  hap- 
piness more  in  the  world." 

But  again  Sohrab  spake  words  of  comfort  unto  his 
father,  bidding  him  live  for  Iran — thus  reaping  in  his  old 


SOHRAB  AGAINST  RUSTEM  253 

age  a  second  glory  of  great  deeds.  Yea,  and  he  also  prayed 
Rustem  to  ensure  that  his  followers  be  allowed  to  cross 
the  Oxus  back  in  peace,  and  that  brave  Hujir  be  granted 
his  liberty.  And  he  said: 

"As  for  me,  O  my  father,  carry  me  back  with  thee  unto 
Seistan,  and  bury  me  with  the  heroes  of  my  house,  for  I 
shall  sleep  more  peacefully  there." 

So  Rustem,  stifling  his  tears,  promised  that  Sohrab's 
every  wish  should  be  fulfilled.  And  he  said: 
'  "O  my  glorious  son!  Never  shalt  thou  be  forgotten. 
For  behold!  I  will  build  thee  a  stately  tomb,  with  a  tall 
pillar  rising  unto  the  skies.  And  so  imposing  shall  it  be 
that  all  men  shall  see  it  from  afar,  and  point  to  it  as  Valiant 
Sohrab's  tomb.  Yea,  and  all  thy  brave  deeds  shall  be 
recorded  there,  cut  so  deep  in  the  marble  that  not  even 
Time  shall  be  able  to  erase  them.  So  shalt  thou  live  for- 
ever, thy  glory  rivalling  that  of  all  the  heroes  of  Iran.  For, 
generous  hast  thou  been,  as  well  as  mighty  and  valiant!"* 

Now  hearing  these  wonderful  words,  Sohrab  smiled 
radiantly  upon  his  father,  caressing  his  mighty  hand. 
Then  sinking  back  into  his  arms,  he  murmured : 

"  Ah,  the  world  is  so  beautiful !  So  beautiful !  And  I  am 
young  to  die.  Nevertheless,  I  am  content.  For,  O  my 
father!  that  was  a  glorious  fight.  .  .  .  And  I  am  not 
ashamed.  Only,  my  poor  young  mother!" 

So,  with  his  mother's  name  upon  his  lips,  Brave  Sohrab 
sighed  gently,  his  head  drooped,  and  then,  white  and  mo- 
tionless, the  fair  young  body  lay  forever  quiet  in  his  father's 
arms.  But  behold,  the  smile  upon  his  lips  still  spake  of 
content,  for  it  said  that  the  beautiful  spirit  had  soared  once 
more  unto  the  sunny  Gardens  of  the  Blessed. 

But  alas!   In  departing,  Sohrab  took  all  the  sunshine  of 


254  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

the  world  with  him.  For  now  night  came  down,  heavy 
and  dark,  upon  the  plain,  and  a  chill  fog  rose  up  from  the 
rushing  river.  By  and  by,  however,  the  moon  came  out, 
shining  solitary  through  the  mist,  and  its  rays  fell  softly 
upon  Sohrab,  lying  with  radiant,  upturned  face,  so  still 
upon  the  sand.  But  alas!  The  Queen  of  the  Night  could 
not  lighten  the  dark  figure  that — with  horseman's  cloak 
drawn  low  over  bowed  head — sat  silent  and  immovable 
by  the  side  of  the  sleeping  youth.  Nay;  not  even  Rakush 
could  rouse  his  master  now,  though  he  caressed  and  whin- 
nied and  coaxed  for  long  hours. 

Alas!  so  it  was  that  the  warriors,  sent  out  by  the  two 
great  chiefs,  found  the  morning's  gay  champions.  But  so 
great  was  their  awe  that  none  dared  draw  near  to  question. 
So,  silently  they  rode  back,  and  gave  the  news  unto  their 
leaders.  But  not  even  the  Shah  dared  disturb  the  Great 
Pehliva  in  his  grief,  when  it  was  learned  that  Rustem  had 
slain  his  son.  In  the  morning,  however,  the  gentle  hands 
of  many  brave  warriors  lifted  the  sleeping  Sohrab  and 
bare  him  in  a  litter,  sorrowfully  unto  the  Persian  camp, 
amid  such  wailing  as  the  earth  ne'er  heard  before.  For 
the  mighty  hosts  of  both  great  armies  mourned  for  the 
brave  young  Hero  gone. 

Yea,  and  after  this,  Rustem,  having  built  a  great  fire, 
flung  into  it  his  tent  of  emerald  and  his  trappings  of  Roum, 
his  saddle  and  his  leopard-skin,  his  armor  well  tried  in 
battle,  and  all  the  appurtenances  of  his  throne.  Now 
thus  was  the  pride  of  the  mighty  warrior  laid  low.  Yea; 
and  without  regret  saw  he  his  heart's  treasures  burn,  for 
his  soul  was  sick  of  war.  And  he  cried: 

"O  Sohrab!  Sohrab!  Not  even  for  thee  will  I  fight 
more.  For  what  availeth  glory  unto  me  now  ?" 


SOHRAB  AGAINST  RUSTEM  255 

And  having  thus  sacrificed  his  pride,  behold,  Rustem 
commanded  that  Sohrab  be  swathed  in  rich  brocades  of 
gold,  worthy  his  fair  young  body;  and  when  they  had 
thus  enfolded  him,  he  made  ready  his  army  to  return  unto 
Seistan.  But  for  one  night,  Brave  Sohrab  lay  in  state, 
watched  over  by  his  own  gallant  chiefs,  who  had  feasted 
with  him  so  merrily  in  his  tent,  and  who  now,  alas,  mourned 
for  him  with  a  bitterness  that  filled  the  night  with  woe. 

When  morning  dawned,  however,  the  sorrowful  pro- 
cession set  forth  unto  Seistan.  Now  all  the  nobles  of  Iran 
marched  before  the  bier,  their  heads  covered  with  ashes 
and  their  garments  rent  and  tattered.  And  behold!  Rus- 
tem heaped  black  earth  upon  his  head,  and  tore  his  hair, 
and  wrung  his  hands;  but  his  cries  could  not  be  heard  for 
the  mighty  wailing  of  the  army.  And  not  only  this,  but  lo! 
the  drums  of  the  war-elephants  were  also  shattered,  and 
the  cymbals  broken,  and  the  tails  of  the  horses  torn  to  the 
roots,  for  thus  did  the  Persians  mourn  their  mighty  dead. 

Now  when  the  mournful  train  drew  near  unto  Seistan, 
Zal  marvelled  to  see  the  host  returning  thus  in  sorrow. 
For,  as  he  beheld  Rustem  at  their  head,  he  knew  that  the 
wailing  was  not  for  him,  and  he  could  think  of  no  other 
worthy  such  martial  honors.  When  they  drew  near,  how- 
ever, Rustem  led  him  unto  the  bier,  and  showed  unto  him 
the  youthful  Sohrab,  so  like  in  feature  and  might  unto 
Saum,  the  son  of  Neriman.  Then  he  told  unto  him  all 
that  had  come  to  pass,  and  behold !  Zal,  too,  tore  his  white 
hair  and  wept  at  this  dire  misfortune  and  loss  that  had 
come  unto  his  house,  and  for  brave,  laughing  Sohrab  gone. 

And  lo!  the  days  of  mourning  being  ended,  the  Mighty 
Ones  built  for  the  sleeping  hero  a  tomb  like  unto  a  horse's 
hoof;  and  therein  they  laid  him  to  rest,  in  a  chamber  of 


256  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

gold,  perfumed  with  amber.  Yea,  and  they  covered  him 
with  soft  brocades,  and  placed  his  arms  beside  him,  so  that 
right  royally  he  took  his  rest.  And  when  it  was  done,  be- 
hold, the  house  of  Rustem  grew  like  unto  a  grave,  and  its 
courts  were  filled  with  the  voice  of  sorrow.  So  they 
mourned  for  Sohrab  in  the  home  of  his  fathers,  and  it 
seemed  as  if  joy  could  never  again  take  up  her  abode  in 
the  anguish-smitten  heart  of  Rustem. 

But  alas!  not  alone  in  the  home  of  his  fathers  was  Sohrab 
mourned.  There  at  least  his  passing  left  no  gap.  But  in 
far  Samengan,  how  different !  For,  though  so  brave  about 
letting  her  nestling  fly  forth,  well  Tamineh  knew  that  until 
he  winged  his  glad  flight  back  unto  the  home  nest  there 
would  be  no  more  sunshine  in  her  life.  Now  gladly  would 
she  have  laid  herself  down  and  slept,  even  as  the  Princess 
of  old,  until  the  glad  -day  when  her  brave  young  Prince 
should,  by  his  kiss,  call  her  back  once  more  unto  the  joy  of 
life.  But  behold!  even  slumber  was  denied  her. 

So,  night  after  night,  too  restless  and  anxious  to  sleep, 
Tamineh  sat  upon  her  balcony,  gazing  down  the  moon- 
lit road  by  which  one  day  her  brave  young  warrior 
must  return.  For  at  first  she  dreamed  not  of  ill.  But 
alas!  one  night  as  she  gazed  with  longing  that  would  not 
be  stilled,  suddenly  she  fell  to  shivering.  For  behold!  no 
longer  did  she  see  the  long  dusty  road,  but  in  its  stead 
there  flowed  a  great  silent  river,  which  shone  in  the  moon- 
light like  molten  silver.  And  alas!  upon  its  surface  floated 
Sohrab,  a  radiant  smile  upon  his  lips,  and  in  his  hands  a 
bunch  of  blood-red  flowers,  which  silently  he  offered  her. 

Now  Tamineh  knew  that  she  had  but  dreamed,  and  yet 
a  vague  foreboding  took  possession  of  her  heart,  causing 
her  more  anxiously  still,  from  this  time  forth,  to  watch  for 


SOHRAB  AGAINST  RUSTEM  257 

her  boy's  return.  And  alas!  one  night  as  she  sat  soothed 
and  entranced  by  the  magic  beauty  of  the  moonlit  world, 
suddenly  she  saw  loom  up  from  out  the  shadows,  upon  the 
white  gleaming  road,  a  great  riderless  horse,  led  by  a  man 
upon  horseback,  whose  figure  seemed  strangely  familiar, 
seeing  which,  Tamineh  thought  that  again  she  dreamed. 
But  alas !  this  time  she  dreamed  not.  For  slowly  the  rider- 
less horse,  with  shorn  tail  and  saddle  reversed,  advanced 
unto  the  palace  gates,  and  then  there  floated  up  unto 
the  waiting  mother  a  terrible  cry,  which  was  taken  up 
and  echoed  through  every  corner  of  the  palace,  and  it 
ran: 

"Sohrab  is  dead!  Sohrab  is  dead!  The  brave  young 
Prince  will  return  no  more  unto  his  native  land." 

And  now,  indeed,  was  there  grief  and  lamentation 
throughout  the  Court.  For  not  only  did  the  nobles  and 
warriors  wail  and  throw  dust  upon  their  heads,  but  the 
women  also  tore  their  long  white  veils,  and  wrung  their 
hands  as  they  clustered  around  the  bereaved  Tamineh, 
who  at  the  first  sight  of  the  face  of  Piran-Wisa,  before  ever 
his  sad  errand  was  told,  knew  what  had  befallen,  and  with 
a  terrible  cry  had  swooned  at  the  feet  of  her  maidens. 

And  alas!  long  Tamineh  lay  as  one  dead,  but,  when 
consciousness  finally  returned,  from  the  lips  of  aged  Piran 
she  heard  the  whole  sad  story  of  her  boy's  untimely  death. 
And  behold!  as  the  white-haired  general  recounted  how 
Sohrab  had  borne  himself  in  that  last  mighty  conflict,  the 
mother's  eyes  flashed  and  dilated,  while  the  soul  looking 
out  from  behind  them  seemed  to  cry  aloud  with  pride, 
and  joy,  and  woe,  and  despair,  in  turn.  To  be  slain  by 
Rustem,  and  slain  in  equal  combat,  was  a  hero's  death, 
truly.  But  ah,  the  woe  of  it! 


258  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Yea,  the  woe  of  it !  For  all  Turan  mourned  for  the  child 
of  prowess  that  was  fallen  in  his  bloom;  but  never  was  there 
grief  like  unto  that  of  Sohrab's  mother.  Night  and  day  she 
grieved  for  her  son,  her  only  comfort  being  the  horse  and 
cloak  which  once  had  been  his.  Weeping,  she  would  kiss 
the  horse's  mane  and  cling  about  his  neck,  while  at  night 
she  held  his  cloak  in  her  arms,  pressing  its  empty  folds  unto 
her  bosom.  So  she  mourned,  neither  eating  nor  sleeping 
till  her  love  for  her  dead  son  drew  her  spirit  like  a  strong 
cord — away  from  the  weary  body — away  from  the  sunless 
earth  which  no  longer  held  her  heart's  dearest. 

But  behold!  Tamineh's  mourning  lasted  but  the  accus- 
tomed time,  for,  seven  days  after  Piran-Wisa's  return  with 
the  riderless  horse,  she  also  floated  away  upon  the  silent 
river,  and  the  beautiful  smile  upon  her  lips,  as  she  lay, 
surrounded  by  her  weeping  maidens,  said  plainly  that 
Rustem's  Bright  Singing-bird  had  flown  also  unto  the 
Gardens  of  Paradise — she  and  her  brave  nestling  happy 
forever  in  the  smile  of  Ormuzd  the  Blessed. 


SIAWUSH  THE  PERSIAN  SIR 
GALAHAD 

BEHOLD!  it  is  recorded  that  upon  a  certain  day, 
while  the  great  Shah,  Kaikous,  was  still  seated  upon 
the  throne  of  light,  Tus,  Gew,  Gudarz,  and  other 
brave  Pehliva  of  Iran  departed  from  the  stately  court  upon 
a  hunting  excursion.  Now  it  was  in  all  a  goodly  com- 
pany, for  the  warriors  were  accompanied  by  numerous 
retainers  and  falconers,  and  also  by  leopards  such  as  are 
trained  to  hunt  the  gazelle  and  the  wild  ass  of  the  desert. 

So  they  went  forth,  and  after  a  merry  day's  hunting,  at 
evening  they  came  unto  a  vast  wood,  reaching  many 
leagues.  And  behold!  as  the  huntsmen  entered  its  dark 
recesses,  what  was  their  surprise  to  discover  there  a  maiden 
of  marvellous  beauty,  her  hair  and  neck  spangled  with 
costly  jewels.  And,  strange  as  it  may  seem,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  horse  which  nibbled  the  grass  near  by,  this 
beautiful  maiden  was  entirely  alone  in  the  green  solitude. 

Now  much  the  huntsman  wondered  at  this  most  unusual 
sight,  and  Tus,  who  first  discovered  the  maiden,  advancing 
courteously,  said:  " O  Maiden  Fair,  by  the  sun,  and  moon, 
and  all  the  silvery  stars,  I  swear  that 

"Never  was  seen  so  sweet  a  flower, 
In  garden,  vale,  or  fairy  bower; 
The  moon  is  on  thy  lovely  face, 
Thy  cypress-form  is  full  of  grace; 
But  why,  with  charms  so  soft  and  meek, 
Dost  thou  the  lonely  forest  seek?" 
259 


260  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Then  the  Princess — for  she  was  a  princess  of  the  house 
of  Feridoun — told  unto  the  Pehliva  how  that  she  had  fled 
from  her  home  to  escape  the  wrath  of  her  father  who  was 
angry  with  her  because  she  had  refused  to  wed  Poshang, 
the  ugly,  bad-tempered  old  ruler  of  Turan.  And  she  said : 
"Alas!  my  father  is  quick 

"But  when  his  angry  mood  is  o'er, 
He'll  love  his  daughter  as  before; 
And  send  his  horsemen  far  and  near, 
To  take  me  to  my  mother  dear. 
Therefore,  I  would  not  further  stray, 
But  here,  without  a  murmur,  stay." 

Now  the  maiden  was  so  beautiful  that  the  impressionable 
hearts  of  both  Tus  and  Gew  warmed  toward  her,  each 
desiring  her  for  his  wife.  And  alas!  so  great  was  their 
ardor,  that  almost  the  two  heroes  came  to  blows,  in  their 
hot  discussion  as  to  the  possession  of  the  Princess.  How- 
ever, misfortune  was  finally  averted  by  wise  old  Gudarz, 
who  persuaded  the  rivals  to  refer  the  matter  unto  the  King. 

So  behold!  they  led  the  Peri-faced  maiden  before  Kai- 
kous  who,  when  he  gazed  upon  her  blooming  cheeks,  her 
smiling  lips,  and  fascinating  mien,  smiled,  and  bit  his  lip, 
saying  unto  Tus  and  Gew: 

"O  my  Pehliva,  I  perceive  that  ye  have  brought  back 
from  the  hunt  but  a  single  gazelle — one,  however,  which, 
unless  I  mistake  me,  belongeth  unto  a  King's  garden.  As 
Queen  of  the  moon-faced  beauties  of  my  palace,  therefore, 
shall  she  reign,  for  I  perceive  she  is  worthy  to  recline  upon 
cushions  of  silver  broidered  with  gold." 

Now,  this  unlooked-for  decision  of  the  King  was  as  the 
essence  of  wormwood  unto  Tus  and  Gew.  However,  the 
Lord  of  the  World  sweetened  the  bitter  cup  by  presenting 


At  evening  they  came  unto  a  vast  wood,  reaching  many  leagues. 


SIAWUSH  THE  PERSIAN  SIR  GALAHAD    261 

unto  each  brave  warrior  a  diadem,  and  ten  superb  horses. 
But  upon  the  Princess  he  showered  rubies  and  pearls,  and 
in  his  heart  she  reigned  as  Queen  of  Queens. 

And  behold !  in  the  course  of  time  there  came  to  take  up 
his  abode  in  the  King's  palace  a  splendid  son,  tall  and  fair 
and  strong  of  limb.  And  the  name  that  was  given  unto 
him  was  Siawush. 

Now  Kaikous  rejoiced  greatly  in  this  son  of  his  race,  and 
offered  grateful  thanks  unto  Ormuzd  the  Blessed.  But  he 
was  grieved,  also,  because  of  the  message  of  the  stars  con- 
cerning him.  For  alas!  the  astrologers  foretold  for  the 
infant  a  career  of  great  vicissitude,  ending  in  sorrow. 
Neither  would  his  virtues  avail  him  aught,  for  these,  above 
all,  would  bring  destruction  upon  him. 

But  Kaikous,  who  was  of  a  sanguine  disposition,  soon 
allowed  hope  to  delude  him  into  forgetting  the  inevitable, 
and  so  he  thought  of  Siawush  only  as  a  child  of  promise; 
while  unto  his  beautiful  young  mother  he  was  the  very  joy 
of  life. 

Yea,  and  also  unto  another  brave  heart  did  Siawush 
cause  joy.  For  behold!  when  the  news  that  a  son  had 
been  born  unto  the  Shah  spread  unto  far-away  Seistan, 
Rustem  the  Mighty,  aroused  him  from  his  sorrow  for  Soh- 
rab,  and  going  up  unto  the  Court,  he  asked  for  the  babe 
that  he  might  rear  it  for  the  glory  of  Iran.  And  Kaikous 
suffered  it,  feeling  that  a  great  honor  had  been  done  unto 
the  child.  So  joyously  Rustem  bare  Siawush  back  unto 
his  kingdom. 

And  fortunately  for  Iran,  as  time  passed  by,  so  absorbed 
became  the  Great  Pehliva  in  this  child  of  his  care,  that  once 
more  he  experienced  the  joys  of  living.  For,  anxious  that 
justice  should  be  done  unto  the  surprising  virtues  of  Sia- 


262  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

wush,  Rustem  himself  taught  his  charge  horsemanship  and 
archery;  the  use  of  arms,  and  how  to  hunt  with  the  falcon 
and  the  leopard;  how  to  conduct  himself  at  a  banquet,  and 
in  fact,  all  the  manners,  duties  and  accomplishments  of 
Kings,  and  the  hardy  chivalry  of  the  age.  His  progress, 
too,  in  the  attainment  of  every  species  of  knowledge  and 
science  was  surprising,  for  in  this  his  soul  delighted.  So, 
as  the  years  passed  by,  this  King's  Son  grew  to  be  a  youth 
of  such  noble  proportions,  possessing  a  face  so  radiant  with 
winsomeness  and  intelligence  that  verily  you  would  have 
said  that  the  world  held  not  his  like. 

Now  when  Siawush  had  become  skilled  and  strong  so 
that  he  could  easily  ensnare  a  lion  or  a  tiger,  behold,  one 
day  he  came  unto  Rustem  bearing  high  his  head.  And 
he  said: 

"O  Glorious  Pehliva!  single-handed  have  I  this  day 
ensnared  and  slain  a  mighty  king  of  the  forest.  Is  it  not 
time,  therefore,  that  we  go  up  unto  the  Shah,  my  father, 
that  he  may  perceive  what  manner  of  man  thou  hast  made 
of  me  ?  Now  truly  I  love  Seistan,  and  thee,  and  thy  dear 
father — the  White-haired  Zal.  But  now  I  am  no  longer 
a  child,  and  it  appeareth  unto  me  that  out  in  the  world 
there  must  be  work  for  me  to  do." 

Then  Rustem  smiled,  for  the  lad's  words  pleased  him 
well.  And,  as  his  wishes  accorded  with  his  own  plans  for 
the  Prince,  almost  at  once  they  marched  with  a  mighty 
host  unto  Iran.  Now  when  they  were  come  unto  the 
Court,  a  royal  welcome  was  accorded  them,  and  so  pleased 
was  Kaikous  with  his  son  that  he  rained  upon  Rustem 
jewels,  and  gold,  and  precious  things  past  the  telling,  and 
all  the  land  rejoiced  and  gloried  in  Siawush,  the  noble 
heir  unto  the  throne.  Yea,  and  to  celebrate  his  return, 


SIAWUSH  THE  PERSIAN  SIR  GALAHAD    263 

there  was  given  a  banquet  such  as  the  world  hath  not  seen 
the  like,  and  behold !  none  were  toasted  save  Siawush  alone. 

But  unto  the  Prince,  his  return  home  brought  no  joy  so 
great  as  that  of  being  reunited  with  the  beautiful  young 
mother  whom  he  not  only  resembled  but  also  adored.  But 
alas!  his  happiness  was  of  short  duration.  For,  in  the 
midst  of  the  festivities  which  celebrated  his  home-coming, 
the  fair  young  Queen  fell  suddenly  ill  and  died. 

Alas!  no  words  can  describe  the  sorrow  of  the  noble 
young  Prince  for  his  mother.  For,  unto  the  impressionable 
lad,  who  had  lived  his  life  thus  far  principally  as  a  warrior 
among  men,  the  gentle  presence  of  this  lovely  spirit  exer- 
cised a  wonderful  charm.  So,  quickly  had  mother  and  son 
become  inseparable,  and  this  congenial  companionship 
did  much,  though  unconsciously,  to  develop  that  strength 
and  beauty  of  character  which  was  the  Queen's  most 
precious  legacy  unto  her  son,  and  which  causes  his  name 
still  to  be  loved  and  revered  by  all  the  Children  of  Or- 
muzd. 

But  not  long  was  Siawush  allowed  to  indulge  his  grief, 
for  after  the  days  of  mourning  were  over,  for  seven  years 
longer  was  his  education  continued,  under  the  tutorship  of 
the  wisest  men  in  the  land.  Howbeit,  in  the  eighth  year, 
after  that  Kaikous  had  proved  his  spirit,  he  gave  unto  his 
son  a  throne  and  a  crown.  So  all  was  well,  and  men  forgot 
the  evil  message  of  the  stars  concerning  Siawush.  But  alas ! 
the  day  of  ill  fortune  was  now  not  far  distant  from  the 
noble  son  of  Kaikous. 

For  behold!  Sudaveh,  the  wife  of  the  Shah,  having  no 
son  of  her  own,  became  jealous  of  Siawush,  the  noble  heir 
to  the  throne.  And,  finding  that  she  could  not  by  wile  lure 
him  into  the  paths  of  evil  and  destruction,  lo,  she  hated 


264  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

him — though  she  tried  to  win  his  liking.  But  Siawush 
would  not  make  friends  with  Sudaveh  because  he  perceived 
that  her  thoughts  were  evil,  and  because  enshrined  in  his 
heart  was  the  memory  of  his  own  fair  mother  who  had 
taught  him  to  value  honor,  and  purity,  and  truth  above  all 
things  in  the  world. 

Seeing,  therefore,  that  she  could  neither  win  Siawush 
unto  herself,  nor  yet  make  him  love  the  wrong,  behold, 
Sudaveh  was  very  wroth,  and  unscrupulously  she  plotted 
his  ruin.  At  first  she  complained  unto  the  King  of 
Siawush,  slandering  his  fair  fame,  thus  trying  to  prejudice 
him  against  his  son.  Then  she  caused  the  most  evil  reports 
to  be  circulated  throughout  the  land  damaging  to  the 
honor  of  the  Prince.  And  finally,  when  the  time  was  ripe, 
this  wicked  woman  devised  a  plot  against  Siawush  so  deep 
and  cunning  that  it  was  impossible  for  the  King  to  decide 
as  to  the  guilt  or  innocence  of  his  son.  In  his  perplexity, 
therefore,  after  consulting  his  Mubids,  Kaikous  decided 
to  put  Siawush  to  the  ordeal  of  fire,  in  order  to  test  his 
innocence. 

So  now  it  came  to  pass  that  the  King  caused  drome- 
daries to  be  sent  forth,  even  unto  the  borders  of  the  land,  to 
bring  cords  and  cords  of  wood  from  the  forests.  And  be- 
hold! when  it  was  brought,  there  was  reared  a  mighty 
heap  of  logs,  so  that  the  eye  could  perceive  it  at  a  distance 
of  two  farsangs,  and  it  was  piled  so  that  a  narrow  path 
ran  through  its  midst.  And  this  being  accomplished,  the 
Shah  next  commanded  that  naphtha  be  poured  upon  the 
wood  and  that  it  be  lighted.  And  alas!  so  great  was  the 
pyre  in  width  and  height  that  two  hundred  men  were 
needed  to  kindle  it,  and  lo!  the  flames  and  smoke  over- 
spread all  the  heavens,  so  that  men  shuddered  with  fear 


SIAWUSH  THE  PERSIAN  SIR  GALAHAD    265 

when  they  beheld  the  tongues  of  fire;  and  so  great  was  the 
heat  thereof  that  it  was  felt  in  the  far  corners  of  the  land. 

And  presently,  the  preparations  being  all  completed, 
Kaikous  commanded  Siawush,  his  son,  that  he  ride  into 
the  midst  of  the  burning  pyres.  So,  attired  in  his  golden 
helmet  and  white  robe,  and  mounted  upon  a  coal-black 
charger,  Siawush  advanced  unto  Kaikous,  saluting  him. 
Then  fearlessly  he  rode  forward,  commending  his  soul 
unto  the  Almighty.  Now  as  he  entered  upon  the  fiery  path, 
a  great  cry  of  sorrow  arose  from  all  the  people,  for  they 
loved  their  brave  young  Prince,  and  they  dreamed  not  that 
any  man  could  come  forth  alive  from  such  a  fiery  furnace. 
Therefore  they  murmured  against  Kaikous,  as  did  all  his 
nobles,  for  their  hearts  were  filled  with  wrath  against  the 
King  for  permitting  this  wicked  deed.  So,  for  long  min- 
utes, naught  was  heard  but  the  angry  murmur  of  the  peo- 
ple and  the  fierce  cackle  of  the  hungry  flames. 

But,  though  all  of  Iran  grieved,  one  there  was  of  the 
King's  own  household  who  exulted  in  this  terrible  scene. 
For,  when  the  wicked  Sudaveh  saw  from  her  windows  the 
fierce  flames  that  struggled  to  mount  unto  heaven,  she 
came  forth  upon  the  roof  of  her  house.  And  alas!  so  given 
over  unto  evil  was  she,  that  when  she  beheld  Siawush  leap 
so  bravely  into  the  fiery  depths,  she  danced  and  clapped 
her  hands,  praying  unto  the  Wicked  One,  and  whispering 
fierce  incantations  and  charms  that  should  cause  destruc- 
tion unto  the  Hero. 

But  behold!  with  soul  uplifted  unto  Ormuzd,  un- 
daunted, Siawush  rode  boldly  through  the  fiery  flames, 
his  white  robes  and  ebon  steed  being  plainly  visible  unto 
all.  Yea,  fearlessly  he  rode,  hasting  not  at  all,  but  pressing 
steadily  forward,  until  he  was  come  unto  the  end  of  the 


266  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

pathway.  And  having  come  forth,  lo,  there  was  not  singed 
so  much  as  a  hair  of  his  head,  neither  had  the  smoke 
blackened  his  garments. 

Then,  realizing  that  it  had  been  vouchsafed  unto  him 
to  come  through  the  test  safely,  involuntarily  Siawush 
raised  his  eyes  unto  the  starry  sky  in  thanksgiving  unto 
Ormuzd  the  Blessed.  And  lo!  floating  above  the  great 
burning  pyres,  which  were  now  throwing  out  a  tremend- 
ous heat,  he  beheld  two  white-robed  figures.  And  lo,  one 
was  Serosch,  the  Angel  of  Pity,  and  the  other  his  fair  young 
mother.  Now  beholding  this  vision,  yearningly  the  young 
Prince  stretched  forth  his  arms,  for  suddenly  the  earth 
had  grown  hateful  unto  him.  But  even  as  he  gazed,  the 
figures  vanished,  and  the  world  seemed  chill  and  cold  in 
spite  of  the  blazing  fire. 

The  heart  of  Siawush  was  soon  warmed,  however,  for 
when  the  people  beheld  that  their  noble  young  Prince  was 
come  forth  alive,  they  rent  the  air  with  their  shouts  of  joy. 
And  Kaikous,  seeing  that  the  fire  had  not  touched  his  son, 
knew  indeed  that  Siawush  was  pure  of  heart.  So  he  raised 
him  from  the  ground,  placing  him  beside  him  upon  the 
throne,  and  asking  forgiveness  for  his  evil  doubts.  Then 
in  his  joy  Kaikous  feasted  Siawush  for  three  days.  On 
the  fourth  day,  however,  the  King  mounted  upon  the 
throne  of  light,  commanding  that  Sudaveh,  his  much-loved 
wife,  be  brought  before  him.  And  behold!  when  she  was 
come  into  his  presence,  Kaikous  reproached  her  for  her 
evil  deeds,  bidding  her  make  ready  to  depart  the  world, 
since  death  was  to  be  the  penalty  of  her  misdeeds. 

But  Sudaveh,  who  knew  her  power  over  the  King,  pleaded 
eloquently  for  her  life,  asserting  that  Siawush  had  escaped, 
not  because  of  his  innocence,  but  by  the  power  of  magic. 


SIAWUSH  THE  PERSIAN  SIR  GALAHAD    267 

Nevertheless,  the  King,  hardening  his  heart,  gave  orders 
that  she  be  led  forth  unto  death;  and  all  the  nobles  approved 
the  decision,  for  they  knew  that  the  woman  was  powerful 
for  evil.  But  now  Siawush,  being  chivalrous  and  generous 
of  heart,  pleaded  for  Sudaveh's  life,  for  he  knew  that  her 
death  would  be  a  great  sorrow  unto  the  King.  So,  the  boon 
being  granted,  once  more  this  wicked  woman  was  in  a 
position  to  work  mischief,  and  this  she  did  right  speedily. 

For  lo,  it  is  chronicled  that  about  this  time  Afrasiab  again 
invaded  Persia  with  a  mighty  host,  thinking  to  gain  pos- 
session of  the  land.  Whereupon,  Kaikous,  greatly  angered 
because  the  Tartar  had  broken  his  covenant,  quickly  made 
ready  his  army  to  oppose  him.  Then  Siawush,  hearing  that 
the  King  himself  expected  to  lead  forth  the  men  of  Iran, 
having  sought  audience  with  his  father,  asked  it  as  his 
right  that  he  be  permitted  to  lead  forth  the  host. 

So,  permission  being  granted,  Siawush  set  about  pre- 
paring himself  and  his  men  for  the  coming  campaign. 
But,  as  he  was  inexperienced  in  war,  and  his  foe  was  wily 
and  powerful,  swift  messengers  were  sent  unto  Rustem, 
bidding  him  go  forth  to  battle  with  his  charge,  to  guard 
and  aid  him  with  his  experience.  And  Rustem,  whose  heart 
leaped  once  more  at  the  thought  of  battle,  answering,  said: 

"  O  King  of  Kings!  Verily  thy  noble  son  Siawush  is  unto 
me  the  light  of  my  eyes  and  the  joy  of  my  soul,  for  it  seem- 
eth  unto  me  that  in  him  Sohrab  yet  liveth.  Therefore  will 
I  go  forth  once  more  unto  battle." 

So  the  trumpets  of  war  were  sounded,  and  the  two 
Mighty  Ones  led  forth  the  host  to  meet  the  enemy.  And 
behold!  when  the  two  armies  encountered  each  other  upon 
the  field  of  battle,  Siawush  fought  so  bravely  that  even 
Rustem  was  amazed,  for  his  had  seemed  to  be  the  gentler 


268  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

and  nobler  virtues.  Yea,  and  inspired  by  their  noble 
young  leader,  so  valiantly  did  the  men  of  Iran  fight,  that 
after  three  fiercely-contested  battles,  the  Persians  finally 
succeeded  in  shutting  up  the  enemy  in  Balkh,  the  capital 
of  Afrasiab. 

Now  when  the  news  of  this  calamity  was  carried  unto 
the  King  of  the  Tartars,  he  was  seized  with  the  utmost  ter- 
ror, which  was  increased  by  a  frightful  dream  which  vis- 
ited his  slumbers.  Yea,  so  terrible  was  it,  that  Gersiwaz, 
the  King's  brother,  found  the  brave  Afrasiab  lying  upon 
the  floor  of  his  chamber,  roaring  in  agony  of  spirit,  and 
shouting  like  a  man  bereft  of  reason.  And  alas!  even 
when  he  finally  recovered  his  wits,  still  did  he  continue  to 
tremble  with  terror  and  fright,  for  he  feared  that  his  hour 
was  come.  Nor  did  the  Mubids  give  him  comfort,  for  they 
revealed  unto  the  King  that  Siawush  would  bring  destruc- 
tion upon  Turan,  hearing  which,  Afrasiab  said  unto 
Gersiwaz: 

"O  my  brother!  Never  shall  I  recover  from  the  horror 
of  my  dream.  But  surely  if  I  cease  from  warring  against 
Siawush,  disaster  will  be  avoided.  It  behooveth  me,  there- 
fore, to  send  unto  this  powerful  young  Prince,  silver,  and 
jewels,  and  rich  gifts,  that  thus  we  may  bind  up  with  gold 
the  eye  of  war." 

So  the  King  bade  his  brother  take  from  the  royal  treas- 
ury, gold  and  jewels  of  price  to  bear  unto  the  camp  of  Sia- 
wush, together  with  a  message,  saying: 

"O  Prince  of  a  Noble  House!  Verily,  since  the  days  of 
Selim  and  Tus,  when  Irij  was  slain  unjustly,  hath  the 
world  been  disturbed  by  our  wars.  Now,  once  for  all,  let 
us  forget  these  things,  that  peace  may  reign  once  more  in 
the  world." 


SIAWUSH  THE  PERSIAN  SIR  GALAHAD    269 

Behold,  upon  the  receipt  of  this  message,  a  secret  council 
was  held  as  to  the  answer  that  should  be  given,  for  Rustem 
trusted  not  the  words  of  Afrasiab.  After  long  deliberation, 
therefore,  Siawush  replied  unto  the  messenger: 

"O  Prince  of  the  Land  of  Turan!  Behold,  we  have 
pondered  thy  message  well,  and  have  decided  to  grant  unto 
Afrasiab  his  desire.  Yet,  since  it  behooveth  us  to  know 
that  poison  be  not  hidden  under  the  words  of  thy  brother, 
we  demand:  First,  one  hundred  distinguished  heroes, 
allied  unto  Afrasiab  by  blood,  that  we  may  guard  them  as  a 
pledge  of  the  royal  words;  and  second,  the  restoration  of  all 
the  provinces  which  the  Turanians  have  taken  from  Iran." 

Alas!  though  Afrasiab  was  loath  to  send  the  hostages, 
yet  dared  he  not  refuse,  fearing  that  in  that  case  the 
evil  foretold  would  surely  fall  upon  him.  So  choosing  out 
from  among  the  army  the  required  number  of  his  kinsmen, 
he  sent  them  unto  Siawush.  And  the  negotiations  being 
thus  concluded,  Rustem  hastened  to  bear  the  tidings  unto 
Kaikous. 

But  behold!  when  the  King  of  Kings  learned  that  a 
treaty  of  peace  had  been  concluded,  he  was  angry,  for 
already  had  rumor  informed  him  of  Afrasiab's  dream,  and 
of  the  interpretation  put  upon  it,  by  the  astrologers.  In 
his  wrath,  therefore,  he  declared  that  Siawush  had  be- 
haved like  an  infant,  and  he  also  heaped  reproaches  upon 
Rustem,  whose  counsels,  he  said,  were  those  of  an  old  man 
who  had  lost  his  courage.  And  finally  he  commanded 
Rustem  that  he  return  right  speedily  unto  Balkh,  bearing 
unto  Siawush  the  message  that  he  should  destroy  the  host- 
ages of  Turan  utterly;  that  he  should  again  fall  upon 
Afrasiab;  nor  cease  from  fighting  until  he  had  wiped  from 
the  earth  both  the  King  and  his  army. 


270  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Now  unto  these  foolish  words,  Rustem  replied: 

" O  King  of  Iran!  Beware  how  thou  sowest  the  seeds  of 
evil,  lest  they  bring  forth  fruit  bitter  unto  thy  taste.  For, 
verily  I  say  unto  thee  that  Siawush  will  not  break  his  oath 
unto  Afrasiab;  neither  will  he  destroy  the  men  of  Turan 
delivered  into  his  hands — for  so  is  he  not  made!  Nay, 
sooner  would  he  die  a  thousand  deaths  of  torture  than  so 
dishonor  his  manhood." 

But  alas!  This  noble  tribute  unto  his  son  only  fanned 
the  fierce  flame  of  anger  that  burned  in  the  heart  of  Kai- 
kous.  So  he  upbraided  Rustem  yet  more,  saying  unto  him 
that  but  for  his  evil  counsel  the  young  Prince  would  not 
have  swerved  from  the  path  of  victory.  Yea,  and  he 
taunted  Rustem  for  his  loss  of  vigor,  bidding  him  go  back 
unto  Seistan,  that  refuge  for  old  men,  since  Tus  the 
Valiant  should  go  forth  as  Pehliva  in  his  stead. 

Now  at  these  unjust  reproaches,  Rustem' s  anger  burst 
forth,  so  that  once  more  he  threw  into  the  teeth  of  the  Shah 
his  deeds  of  folly,  telling  him  not-  to  send  for  him  when 
again  he  put  his  hand  into  the  lion's  mouth.  And  so  say- 
ing, he  turned  his  back  upon  the  Court,  thinking  never  to 
visit  it  again. 

So  thus  it  came  to  pass  that  Tus  went  forth  unto  the 
army  in  place  of  Rustem,  and  behold!  he  carried  with 
him  strict  orders  unto  Siawush  that  the  hostages  should 
be  bound  and  sent  unto  Kaikous  for  execution.  But  Sia- 
wush, being  a  Prince  of  the  highest  purity  and  honor,  could 
not  be  a  party  unto  any  such  disgraceful  deed.  For  he 
said: 

"How,  alas,  can  I  appear  before  Ormuzd  the  Blessed  if 
I  depart  from  mine  oath  ?  even  if  it  be  at  the  command  of 
my  father  who  is  the  Lord  of  the  World." 


SIAWUSH  THE  PERSIAN  SIR  GALAHAD    271 

Yet  well  Siawush  knew  that  if  he  disobeyed  the  royal 
mandate  of  his  father  it  was  well-nigh  certain  that  his  life 
would  pay  the  penalty;  for  he  needed  not  to  be  told  whose 
tongue  it  was  that  had  poisoned  the  King's  ear  and  insti- 
gated him  in  his  evil  course.  After  much  thought,  there- 
fore, the  Prince  finally  decided  that  he  himself  would  re- 
turn the  hostages  safe  unto  Afrasiab,  and  then  abandon 
his  country  and  the  prospects  of  a  throne,  since  only  thus 
could  he  preserve  his  honor,  and  prevent  his  father  from 
becoming  a  murderer. 

So,  having  reached  this  decision,  Siawush  sent  Zengueh 
unto  Afrasiab  with  the  hostages  and  all  the  gold  and  jew- 
els that  had  been  sent  unto  him,  together  with  a  letter 
wherein  was  written  how  that  discord  had  sprouted  out  of 
their  peace,  and  how  that  he  was  resolved  to  remain  true 
unto  their  treaty,  in  spite  of  his  father's  commands  to  the 
contrary.  And  finally  he  petitioned  that  Afrasiab  would 
allow  him  to  pass  through  his  dominions  that  he  might 
hide  himself  wheresoever  God  desired.  For  he  said: 

"Verily,  I  shall  seek  out  a  spot  far  distant  where  my 
name  shall  be  lost  unto  Kaikous,  and  where  I  may  not 
hear  of  his  woful  deeds." 

Now  when  Afraisab  received  this  letter  he  was  amazed, 
for  such  nobility  of  soul  was  unknown  unto  the  wily  Tar- 
tar. But  he  was  also  troubled  in  his  spirit,  for  he  knew 
not  what  to  do.  Therefore,  he  called  unto  him  his  great 
general,  aged  Piran-Wisa,  taking  counsel  how  he  should 
act.  And  Piran  said: 

"O  Mighty  King!  Truly  there  is  but  one  course  open 
unto  thee.  Now,  I  am  an  old  man,  and  have  drunk  deep 
at  the  fountain  of  life,  but  I  say  unto  thee  that  never  yet 
have  I  witnessed  such  honor  and  nobility  in  a  Prince, 


272  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Wherefore,  I  counsel  thee,  receive  him  within  thy  courts, 
and  give  unto  him  thy  daughter  in  marriage,  and  let  him 
be  unto  thee  as  a  son.  For,  verily  when  Kaikous  is  gathered 
unto  his  fathers,  then  will  Siawush  mount  unto  the  throne 
of  Iran,  and  thus  may  the  old  hate  be  quenched  in  love." 

So  spake  good,  old  Piran,  and  Afrasiab,  knowing  that 
wisdom  lurked  in  his  words,  at  once  sent  unto  Siawush, 
offering  him  a  home  in  his  land.  And  he  said: 

"O  noble  Prince!  Since  I  perceive  that  the  windows  of 
thy  soul  are  ever  open  unto  the  sun,  if  thou  comest  to  dwell 
among  us  never  will  I  demand  of  thee  aught  that  is  evil; 
neither  shall  suspicion  against  thee  ever  enter  my  breast. 
Come,  then,  and  if  thy  choice  be  retirement  and  tran- 
quillity, thou  shalt  have  allotted  unto  thee  a  peaceful  and 
independent  province." 

Now  Siawush,  when  he  read  Afrasiab's  letter,  was  re- 
lieved, and  yet  was  he  also  troubled.  For  his  heart  was 
sore  because  that  he  was  forced  to  make  a  friend  of  the 
foe  of  his  country.  But  alas!  he  saw  no  way  by  which  it 
could  be  altered. 

So,  after  despatching  a  touching  letter  unto  his  father, 
Siawush  set  out  with  his  cortege,  and  rode  until  he  reached 
the  frontier.  Now  there  he  found  chieftains  and  warriors 
and  servants  ready  to  escort  him;  and  when  he  was  well 
over  the  boundary,  the  great  Piran-Wisa  himself  came 
forth  to  greet  him.  And  lo!  there  followed  after  him  a 
train  of  white  elephants,  richly  caparisoned,  and  laden  with 
gifts,  which  the  great  general  poured  before  Siawush  to 
give  him  welcome.  Yea;  and  every  town  upon  the  road 
to  the  capital  was  decorated,  and  the  people  hailed  Sia- 
wush as  if  he  were  their  own  Prince  returned  unto  them 
victorious. 


SIAWUSH  THE  PERSIAN  SIR  GALAHAD    273 

And  behold!  when  they  were  finally  come  unto  the  capi- 
tal, Afrasiab  himself  stepped  down  from  off  his  throne  to 
give  welcome  unto  Siawush,  and  much  he  marvelled  at  the 
beauty  and  strength  of  the  Prince,  his  heart  going  out  unto 
him  in  real  admiration  and  love.  So,  embracing  him,  and 
calling  down  blessings  upon  his  head,  Afrasiab  seated  him 
at  his  side  upon  the  throne.  Then,  turning  unto  Piran- 
Wisa,  he  said: 

"Truly  Kaikous  is  a  man  devoid  of  sense,  else  never 
would  he  suffer  a  son  like  unto  this  to  depart  from  out  his 
sight." 

Now  Afrasiab  could  not  cease  from  gazing  upon  Sia- 
wush, so  truly  noble  and  winning  was  he,  and  in  his  de- 
light he  showered  upon  him  gold  and  jewels  and  precious 
treasure  past  the  counting.  And  he  gave  unto  him,  too, 
a  beautiful  palace,  and  horses  and  servants  such  as  only 
a  Prince  could  have.  And  not  only  this,  but  he  also  pre- 
pared for  his  guest  a  royal  feast  which  lasted  many  days. 
And  lo!  Siawush  was  exalted  above  even  the  nobles  of  the 
land.  And  in  the  great  tournament  which  ended  the  wel- 
coming festivities,  in  all  the  games  of  skill  Siawush  showed 
a  prowess  that  was  great  beyond  all  the  warriors  of  Turan. 
Yet  were  they  not  jealous,  but  only  admiring. 

But  though  Siawush  won  admiration  and  love  from  all 
sources,  unto  Afrasiab,  even  in  this  short  time,  he  had  be- 
come the  light  of  his  eyes  and  the  joy  of  his  soul.  So  the 
Prince  abode  in  the  court  of  the  King  many  days,  for  in 
gladness  or  sorrow,  in  gayety  or  sadness,  the  infatuated 
monarch  would  have  none  other  about  him.  And  in  this 
wise  there  rolled  twelve  moons  over  their  heads.  Then 
Piran-Wisa  said  unto  Siawush: 

"O  noble  Prince!  Behold,  thy  home  is  now  in  Turan, 


274  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

and  if  Afrasiab  be  made  now  thy  father  in  truth  as  he  is 
really  in  affection,  then  can  no  hurt  come  unto  thee.  Ask 
of  him,  therefore,  the  hand  of  his  daughter  in  marriage,  for 
thus  canst  thou  secure  thyself,  and  if  peradventure,  a  son 
be  born  unto  thee,  then  will  he  bind  up  forever  the  enmity 
between  the  two  lands." 

So  Siawush  asked  the  hand  of  Ferangis  of  her  father, 
and  Afrasiab  gave  it  unto  him  with  great  joy.  Now  he 
also  prepared  a  mighty  feast  for  the  bridal,  pouring  upon 
his  new  son  gifts  past  the  telling.  Yea,  and  he  also  be- 
stowed upon  him  a  kingdom  and  a  throne.  And  alas!  when 
at  last  the  King  suffered  his  favorite  to  go  forth  unto  his 
realm,  the  sunshine  of  the  Court  seemed  to  go  with  him,  so 
gray  were  the  days  unto  Afrasiab. 

But  Siawush  was  happy  in  his  new  life,  for  though  so 
gallant  and  brave  when  occasion  demanded,  yet  at  heart 
was  he  not  really  a  warrior,  but  one  of  the  heroes  of  prog- 
ress, as  he  now  proceeded  to  show.  For  behold!  in  the 
midst  of  his  province  he  builded  himself  a  city,  making  of 
it  a  place  of  beauty  such  as  the  world  hath  not  seen. 

Now  it  was  builded  upon  a  mountain,  and  was  sur- 
rounded by  scenery  of  exquisite  richness  and  variety.  The 
trees  were  thick,  and  ever  fresh  and  green;  birds  warbled 
upon  every  spray;  and  transparent  rivulets  murmured 
through  the  meadows;  while  the  air  was  neither  oppres- 
sively hot  in  summer  nor  cold  in  winter,  for  every  breeze 
was  laden  with  invigorating  freshness  and  with  perfume 
such  as  could  only  have  been  wafted  from  the  fair  Gar- 
dens of  Paradise.  Now  it  was  in  the  midst  of  all  this  nat- 
ural beauty  that  the  followers  of  Siawush  builded  them 
homes,  while  he  erected  for  himself  a  glorious  palace,  and 
garden  temples,  in  which  he  had  painted  portraits  of  all  the 


SIAWUSH  THE  PERSIAN  SIR  GALAHAD    275 

heroes  and  kings  of  his  age.  Yea,  and  he  caused  to  be 
constructed  a  great  open  space  wherein  men  might  rejoice 
in  the  game  of  ball. 

And  Siawush  was  glad  in  his  city,  as  were  all  those 
around  him,  and  the  earth  was  happier  for  his  presence. 
Yea,  and  not  a  cloud  was  there  in  the  heaven  of  his  life. 
But  when  the  gallant  young  Prince,  happy  in  his  lovely 
young  wife  and  his  beautiful  home,  inquired  of  the  astrolo- 
gers whether  this  city  was  destined  to  add  to  his  happiness, 
they  replied  that  it  would  bring  unto  him  ill  fortune  and 
sorrow.  Now  Siawush  was  saddened  by  this  reply,  but 
as  time  passed  by  and  no  evil  befell,  like  a  wise  man 
he  put  away  the  thought  and  rejoiced  in  the  time  that 
was. 

But  alas!  Not  long  was  Siawush  to  rejoice  in  a  happy 
present;  and  behold!  his  evil  nemesis  was  Gersiwaz,  the 
King's  brother,  who  was  jealous  of  the  love  which  Afra- 
siab  bare  unto  the  Prince,  and  of  the  power  and  glory  that 
were  his.  So  pondering  in  his  heart  how  he  might  destroy 
this  mote  in  his  sunshine,  one  day  Gersiwaz  presented  him- 
self before  Afrasiab,  praying  the  King  that  he  would  suffer 
him  to  go  forth  and  visit  the  city  that  Siawush  had  builded, 
whereof  the  mouths  of  men  ran  over  in  praises.  And 
Afrasiab  granted  his  request,  bidding  him  bear  gifts  and 
words  of  love  unto  Siawush  his  son. 

So  Gersiwaz  sped  him  forth,  and  Siawush,  who  sus- 
pected no  evil,  .received  him  graciously,  feasting  him  many 
days  in  his  palace. '  And  in  order  that  due  honor  should 
be  paid  unto  the  brother  of  the  King,  a  series  of  athletic 
games  were  arranged  for.  But  alas!  the  amazing  strength 
and  skill  displayed  by  Siawush  on  these  occasions,  together 
with  the  splendor  by  which  he  was  surrounded,  fanned 


276  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

into  a  devouring  flame  the  smouldering  envy  and  hate  of 
the  King's  brother. 

Upon  his  return  to  the  Court,  therefore,  Gersiwaz  insidi- 
ously poisoned  the  mind  of  Afrasiab  by  false  tales,  in  which 
he  actually  accused  Siawush  of  plotting  to  bring  a  Persian 
army  into  Turan.  Yea,  and  he  reminded  the  King  of  his 
dream,  thus  working  upon  his  fear.  And  alas!  though  at 
first  receiving  these  stories  with  hesitation,  Afrasiab  finally 
became  furious  against  his  gentle  guest,  proceeding  against 
him  with  an  army. 

Now  a  terrible  dream  had  forewarned  Siawush  that  his 
doom  was  at  hand.  Nevertheless,  he  entertained  not  the 
slightest  thought  of  trying  to  resist  the  King.  When  in- 
formed of  his  approach,  therefore,  after  bidding  a  touch- 
ing farewell  unto  his  lovely  young  wife  Ferangis,  Siawush 
went  forth  to  welcome  Afrasiab  unto  the  cool  bowers  of 
his  charming  city. 

But  alas!  So  infuriated  had  Afrasiab  become  by  the  in- 
sinuations of  his  brother,  that  without  waiting  to  confer 
and  learn  the  truth,  also  without  warning,  he  hurled  his 
army  upon  the  escort  of  Siawush,  and  all  were  cut  to 
pieces.  But  not  even  then  did  Siawush  deign  to  defend 
himself.  For  had  he  not  taken  oath  never  to  raise  his 
sword  against  Afrasiab  or  Turan  ?  Conscious  of  his  inno- 
cence, therefore,  he  preferred  to  die  rather  than  give  color 
unto  the  slander  of  his  enemies  by  raising  his  hand  against 
his  royal  host  and  the  father  of  his  bride. 

Seized  by  a  thousand  cruel  hands,  therefore,  the  noble 
Prince  was  bound  and  thrown  into  a  dungeon  of  his  own 
palace.  Then,  by  Afrasiab's  orders,  he  was  dragged  from 
thence  by  the  hair  of  his  head  unto  a  desert  place,  where 
the  sword  of  Gersiwaz  was  planted  in  his  breast.  And 


SIAWUSH  THE  PERSIAN  SIR  GALAHAD    277 

alas!  quickly  then  the  executioner  severed  the  royal  head, 
taking  care  that  the  blood  stain  not  the  earth,  lest  it  cry 
aloud  for  vengeance,  for  so  had  commanded  fear-stricken 
Afrasiab. 

But  alas!  in  spite  of  the  care  taken,  a  drop  of  blood  es- 
caped the  golden  bowl  and  was  spilt  upon  the  ground. 
And  lo!  from  the  spot,  as  though  by  magic,  there  sprouted 
and  sprang  up  a  wondrous  tree,  whose  bright  red  berries 
each  appeared  like  unto  a  miniature  sword.  Now  all  were 
amazed  and  affrighted  when  they  beheld  this  wonder, 
and  quickly  they  hastened  from  the  spot.  For  they 
feared  the  vengeance  of  Heaven,  knowing  their  deed  to  be 
evil. 

Now  when  the  news  of  this  atrocious  deed  was  spread 
abroad,  behold,  a  mighty  clamor  arose  in  the  house  of  Sia- 
wush,  the  cries  of  Ferangis  piercing  even  unto  the  ears  of 
Afrasiab  in  his  far-away  pavilion.  Then  the  King,  angry 
that  his  child  should  sorrow  thus  for  her  lord,  commanded 
that  she,  too,  be  slain. 

And  alas!  this  certainly  would  have  happened  but  for 
the  timely  intervention  of  good  old  Piran-Wisa,  who,  hear- 
ing of  the  tragic  end  of  Siawush,  and  of  the  fate  that 
awaited  Ferangis,  quickly  saddled  his  swiftest  steed  with 
his  own  hands,  and  dashed  madly  over  hill  and  valley, 
pausing  neither  to  eat  nor  sleep  until  he  drew  rein  before 
the  pavilion  of  King  Afrasiab. 

Then  with  noble  courage  the  old  man  strode  into  the 
presence  of  the  cruel  King,  and,  upbraiding  him  for  his  per- 
fidy, foretold  a  certain  retribution  when  Kaikous  and  Rus- 
tem  should  learn  of  the  treatment  awarded  unto  the  pure 
and  high-minded  Siawush.  Yea,  and  he  pleaded  in  lofty 
terms  also  for  the  life  of  Ferangis,  saying: 


278  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

"O  thou  who  art  more  heartless  than  the  fierce  beasts 
of  prey,  wouldst  thou  really  lift  up  thine  hand  against 
thine  own  offspring?  Hast  thou  not  done  enough  that  is 
evil  ?  Shed  not,  therefore,  the  blood  of  yet  another  inno- 
cent, for  truly  the  day  will  come  when  thou  shalt  pay  with 
thine  own  heart's  blood.  Now,  if  Ferangis  be  hateful  unto 
thee  because  of  Siawush,  I  pray  thee  confide  her  unto  me, 
that  she  may  be  unto  me  a  daughter  in  my  house,  and  I 
will  guard  her  well  from  sorrow." 

Now  hearing  these  words  of  warning,  Afrasiab  was  filled 
with  remorse  for  his  evil  deed.  So,  releasing  his  daughter 
from  her  chains,  he  gave  her  into  the  care  of  Piran,  who 
bore  her  unto  his  home  beyond  the  mountains. 

Then  Afrasiab  returned  speedily  unto  the  Court,  for  the 
city  of  Siawush,  in  spite  of  its  entrancing  beauty,  had  be- 
come hateful  unto  him.  And  behold!  from  this  time  forth, 
a  great  fear  gnawed  persistently  at  his  vitals,  allowing  him 
neither  rest  nor  sleep,  and  ever  before  him  he  saw  the  pure 
face  of  the  cruelly  murdered  Siawush. 

So  lived  and  died  this  noble  Prince  of  the  land  of  Iran 
whose  tragic  fate  yet  moveth  the  Children  of  Ormuzd 
to  tears,  even  unto  this  day.  But  of  the  vengeance  that 
was  accorded  him  you  must  hear  in  another  story. 


RUSTEM  THE  AVENGER 

LO,  in  the  Book  of  the  Shahs  it  is  written,  that  when 
the  tidings  of  the  cruel  death  of  Siawush  pierced 
unto  the  land  of   Iran,  behold,  throughout  the 
length  and  breadth  of  the  King's  dominions  there  was 
raised  unto  heaven  such  a  mighty  wailing  that  even  the 
nightingale  in  the  cypress  was  silent  of  her  song,  and  the 
leaves  of  the  pomegranate-trees  in  the  forest  were  withered 
for  sorrow. 

As  for  the  mighty  Rustem,  when  he  learned  of  the 
tragic  fate  of  the  Prince  so  dear  unto  him,  he  was  bowed 
to  the  earth  with  agony,  so  that  for  seven  days  he  stirred 
not  from  the  ground,  neither  would  have  aught  of  food  or 
comfort.  But  on  the  eighth  day  he  roused  himself  from 
the  earth,  causing  the  trumpets  of  brass  to  be  sounded  in 
the  air.  And  behold!  when  he  had  assembled  all  his 
brave  warriors,  he  marched  with  them  unto  Iran,  where, 
appearing  before  the  Shah,  he  demanded  audience. 

Now  when  Rustem  was  come  into  the  presence-cham- 
ber, he  beheld  the  King  of  Kings  seated  upon  his  throne, 
and  lo !  he  was  clothed  in  dust  from  his  head  unto  his  feet, 
because  of  his  grief.  Yea;  and  all  the  heroes  that  stood 
about  the  throne  were  clad  in  garbs  of  woe,  bearing  dust 
upon  their  heads  instead  of  helmets.  But  Rustem  was  not 
moved  by  the  grief  of  the  Shah,  for  he  remembered  but  too 
well  who  had  driven  Siawush  forth  unto  his  doom.  So 
pitilessly  he  said  unto  Kaikous: 
279 


280  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

"O  King  of  Evil  Nature!  Verily  it  must  be  bitter  unto 
thee  to  know  that  with  thine  own  hand  thou  hast  felled  the 
noble  young  cypress  of  thy  house,  which  might  have  grown 
and  cast  a  glorious  shadow  over  Iran.  Alas  for  Siawush, 
so  noble  and  yet  so  treacherously  slain!  But  dearly  shall 
his  murderers  pay;  and  lo!  vengeance  beginneth  at  the 
King's  palace.  Nay,  tremble  not,  for,  being  the  King, 
thou  art  safe  from  my  sword.  But  as  for  that  wicked  sor- 
ceress who  poisoned  thy  mind  with  her  charms,  now  she 
must  die;  and  verily  all  Iran  will  glory  in  her  death. 
And  now  hear  me,  O  King,  and  ye  heroes  of  Iran,  for  I 
swear  unto  thee  that  henceforth  I  will  know  neither  rest 
nor  joy  until  the  atrocious  death  of  Siawush  be  fully 
avenged.  Let  his  murderers  beware,  therefore,  for  be- 
hold! Rustem  is  upon  their  track." 

Now  having  thus  unveiled  his  heart,  Rustem  strode  dis- 
dainfully from  out  the  presence  of  the  King,  hastening  at 
once  unto  the  palace  of  Sudaveh,  who  had  given  over  Sia- 
wush unto  death.  And  behold!  the  Hero  found  this 
charming  sorceress  sitting  upon  a  golden  throne,  in  a 
bower  that  rivalled  paradise  in  beauty,  with  a  coronet 
upon  her  head  and  her  hair  floating  around  her  in  long 
musky  ringlets. 

But  as  Rustem  beheld  all  this  luxury  and  splendor,  and 
thought  of  Siawush  abandoned  unto  the  foes  of  his  land, 
because  of  this  wicked  woman,  all  compunction  left  him. 
Tearing  her  from  her  gorgeous  throne,  therefore,  quickly 
did  he  rid  the  world  of  this  source  of  evil;  nor  did  he  feel 
pity  or  regret  when  he  saw  her  dead  at  his  feet.  For  he 
remembered  how  Siawush  had  pleaded  for  her  life  and 
how  his  generosity  and  nobility  had  been  rewarded. 

And  behold!  having  thus  purged  the  earth  of  a  part  of 


RUSTEM  THE  AVENGER  281 

its  wickedness,  Rustem  strode  forth  into  the  pure  air  of 
heaven,  fearing  naught.  For  though  well  he  knew  that  the 
heart  of  Kaikous  would  be  torn  with  anguish  when  he 
learned  of  the  death  of  Sudaveh,  yet  would  he  not  dare  to 
oppose  himself  unto  his  great  Pehliva  in  his  wrath. 

So,  the  hand  of  vengeance  being  stretched  forth,  Rustem 
now  directed  his  course  toward  Turan,  saying  unto  his 
heroes: 

"Verily,  this  accursed  land  shall  tremble  before  my  mace 
as  the  earth  upon  the  day  of  judgment,  and  Afrasiab,  the 
black-hearted,  shall  cry  for  the  rocks  to  hide  him  from  my 
anger,  which  burneth  ever  fiercer." 

Thus  spake  Rustem,  and  paused  not  in  his  forced  march 
until  he  was  come  face  to  face  with  the  forces  of  Afrasiab. 
Now  the  King  having  learned  that  a  great  army  was  com- 
ing out  of  Iran  to  avenge  the  death  of  Siawush,  had  sent 
forth  Sarkha,  the  best-beloved,  and  the  bravest  of  his  sons, 
to  oppose  the  invaders,  begging  him,  however,  to  have  a 
care  that  Rustem,  the  son  of  Zal,  put  not  his  life  in  danger. 

Now  when  the  two  armies  beheld  one  another,  lo,  their 
hate  burst  forth,  and  the  battle  raged  sore.  And  alas  for 
Afrasiab!  for  in  the  midst  of  the  conflict  Sarkha  fell  into 
the  hands  of  Rustem,  who  spared  him  not,  but  delivered 
him  over  unto  the  same  death  as  that  of  Siawush,  knowing 
that  thus  would  the  heart  of  Afrasiab  be  torn  with  anguish. 

And  now  the  frenzied  King  of  Turan,  having  received 
the  golden  dish  containing  the  blood  of  his  son,  and  beheld 
his  severed  head  suspended  from  the  gates  of  his  palace, 
hastened  himself  to  resist  the  conquering  career  of  the 
enemy.  And  behold!  this  new  force  having  come  nigh 
unto  Rustem,  it  came  to  pass  that  Pilsam,  that  was  brother 
unto  Piran-Wisa,  a  warrior  valiant  and  true,  begged  per- 


282  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

mission  to  oppose  his  single  arm  against  the  Mighty  Rus- 
tem.  To  which  Afrasiab  said: 

"  O  Valiant  One,  subdue  Rustem,  and  thy  reward  shall 
be  my  daughter  and  half  my  kingdom." 

So,  though  Piran  tried  to  dissuade  Pilsam  from  the  un- 
equal contest,  yet  went  he  forth  and  summoned  Rustem  to 
fight.  But  behold!  hearing  the  call,  Gew  accepted  the 
challenge  himself,  Rustem  being  at  a  distance.  Then  long 
they  fought,  but  so  superior  was  the  activity  and  skill  of 
the  Tartar  that  almost  Gew  was  thrown  from  his  horse. 
Luckily,  however,  Feramurz  saw  him  at  the  perilous  mo- 
ment, and  darting  forward,  with  one  stroke  of  his  sword 
he  shattered  Pilsam's  javelin  to  pieces.  So  now  Pilsam 
and  Feramurz  fought  together  with  such  desperation  that 
presently  both  Heroes  were  exhausted.  But  at  this  mo- 
ment Rustem,  perceiving  the  combat,  pushed  Rakush 
forward,  calling  aloud  unto  Pilsam: 

"Ho,  Puny  Tartar!  I  am  told  that  thou  desirest  to  try 
thy  strength  with  Rustem.  Behold!  he  hath  come  in 
answer  to  thy  call." 

Now  when  Pilsam  gazed  upon  the  mighty  warrior, 
wrapped  about  with  anger,  he  was  afraid.  Nevertheless, 
he  proceeded  to  encounter  him,  striking  with  all  his  might 
at  the  head  of  the  champion.  But  though  the  sword  of  the 
Hero  was  broken  by  the  blow,  not  a  hair  of  Rustem's  head 
was  disordered.  Waiting  not  for  a  renewal  of  the  attack, 
however,  Rustem  now  fell  upon  the  Tartar  with  fury, 
lifting  him  lightly  and  easily  from  the  saddle.  Then  tak- 
ing him  by  the  girdle,  he  flung  him,  as  a  thing  contempti- 
ble, into  the  Tartar  camp,  shouting  in  a  voice  of  thunder: 

"Ho,  black-hearted  King!  Here  cometh  thy  glorious 
conqueror.  Pray,  wrap  him  in  robes  of  gold,  for  I  fear 


RUSTEM  THE  AVENGER  283 

that  my  mace  hath  made  him  blue.  And  give  unto  him 
now  thy  daughter  and  thy  treasure,  thy  kingdom  and 
thy  soldiers,  for  is  he  not,  indeed,  a  bright  jewel  in  thy 
crown  of  sovereignty  ?  And  hath  he  not  added  lustre  unto 
Turan,  the  land  of  mighty  heroes  ? 

So  spake  Rustem  in  his  anger,  and  so  terrible  was  he 
that  suddenly  the  courage  of  the  Tartars  all  departed  from 
out  them.  Neither  could  Afrasiab  incite  them  to  fresh 
endeavor,  though  he  strove  mightily;  for  lo!  the  fear  of 
Rustem  the  Avenger  had  taken  full  possession  of  their 
hearts. 

Then  Afrasiab,  shamed  by  Rustem's  taunts,  himself 
appeared  in  arms  against  the  champion,  and  fiercely  they 
fought  for  hours.  Finally,  however,  Rustem  struck  the 
head  of  Afrasiab's  horse  which,  floundering,  fell,  over- 
turning his  rider.  Then,  quick  as  a  flash,  the  great  Per- 
sian sprang  to  seize  his  royal  prize  and  wreak  a  perfect 
vengeance.  But  alas!  the  Tartar,  Human,  rushed  be- 
tween and  saved  his  master,  who,  vaulting  upon  another 
horse,  fled,  murmuring  unto  himself: 

"Alas!  alas!  The  good  fortune  which  hitherto  hath 
watched  over  me  is  asleep." 

Now  thus  it  was  that  Afrasiab'  became  a  wrteched  wan- 
derer upon  the  face  of  the  earth.  For  behold!  not  only 
did  Rustem  utterly  demolish  his  capital,  but  he  paused  not 
in  his  work  of  destruction  until  the  whole  land  was  laid 
waste.  And  yet  was  the  vengeance  of  Siawush  not  com- 
plete. 


HOW  GEW  HELPED  A  HERO-PRINCE 
UNTO  A  THRONE 

BEHOLD!    it  is  chronicled  that  after  the  death  of 
Siawush  there  was   born  unto   Ferangis,  in  the 
house  of  Piran-Wisa,  a  son  so  attractive  of  mien 
that  already  in  his  cradle  he  was  like  unto  a  King. 

Now  evil  counsellors  bade  Afrasiab  destroy  this  Prince, 
who,  according  to  the  astrologers,  was  destined  to  bring 
destruction  upon  Turan.  But  the  King,  whose  heart  had 
been  softened  by  his  sorrow  for  Siawush  and  by  the  elo- 
quent pleading  of  Piran-Wisa  for  the  life  of  the  child,  shut 
his  ears  unto  them,  saying: 

"Verily,  I  repent  me  of  my  evil  deed  unto  Siawush,  and 
though  it  be  written  that  much  evil  shall  come  unto  me 
from  this  offspring  of  his  race,  yet  will  I  not  again  stain 
my  hands  with  the  blood  of  any  of  his  house.  Let  the 
babe  live,  therefore,  but  let  him  be  brought  up  among 
shepherds  in  the  mountains,  far  from  the  haunts  of  men, 
and  let  his  birth  be  hidden  from  him,  that  he  may  never 
seek  to  avenge  the  cruel  death  of  his  sire.  So  may  all  yet 
be  well." 

So,  rejoicing  that  the  Prince  was  to  be  spared,  quickly 
Piran  hastened  to  hide  him  in  the  mountains,  before  Afra- 
siab should  repent  him  of  his  clemency,  for  well  he  knew 
the  King's  fickleness  of  humor.  Now  the  old  man  gave  the 
little  Prince  unto  shepherds  of  the  flock,  bound  unto  him 
by  ties  of  gratitude,  saying: 

284 


HOW  GEW  HELPED  A  HERO-PRINCE  285 

"O  Men  of  Peace!  Behold,  I  give  unto  you  a  glorious 
charge,  and  I  say  unto  you,  guard  this  child  even  as  your 
own  souls,  letting  neither  rain  nor  dust  come  nigh  unto 
him,  for  verily  he  is  precious  in  the  sight  of  Ormuzd  the 
Blessed." 

Thus  it  came  to  pass  that  no  man  knew  of  the  where- 
abouts of  the  young  Prince — nay,  not  even  Ferangis,  his 
mother,  for  thus  only  could  he  be  safe  from  Afrasiab. 
But  alas !  the  thought  of  his  charge  caused  Piran  many  an 
anxious  hour,  for  greatly  he  feared  that  strife  and  disaster 
would  come  unto  Turan  through  him,  yet  on  account  of 
the  promise  of  protection  given  unto  Siawush,  his  friend, 
whom  he  had  led  to  put  his  trust  in  Afrasiab,  he  felt 
bound  in  honor  to  preserve  the  child  at  any  cost. 

Now  when  some  time  had  passed,  the  shepherds  came 
unto  their  patron,  the  great  Piran- Wisa,  saying: 

"Verily,  Sire,  no  longer  can  we  restrain  the  bold  young 
eagle  that  thou  hast  placed  in  our  mountain  eyrie,  for  be- 
hold! he  ever  seeketh  to  fly  unto  the  sun." 

So,  hearing  this  report,  Piran  returned  with  the  shep- 
herds to  visit  KaiKhosrau,  for  so  was  the  young  Prince 
named.  And  lo !  when  he  looked  upon  him,  beholding  his 
beauty,  and  strength,  and  winsomeness,  his  heart  went 
out  to  him  as  unto  a  son,  and  he  pressed  him  unto  his 
bosom  with  tenderness.  Then  was  KaiKhosrau  sur- 
prised, and  he  said  unto  the  white-haired,  stately  old 
warrior: 

"O  Stately  Poplar,  that  bearest  high  thy  head!  Art  thou 
not  ashamed  to  press  unto  thee  the  son  of  a  shepherd?" 

Then  Piran,  who  was  carried  out  of  himself  by  the 
wondrous  promise  of  the  boy,  stopping  not  to  ponder  his 
words,  cried  out  in  admiration: 


286  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

"  O  Heir  of  Kings!  Would  that  thy  father  could  see  thee 
now!  How  his  heart  would  rejoice  in  a  son  so  truly  royal!" 

Thus  spake  Piran  in  his  admiration,  and  having  be- 
trayed in  part  the  secret,  he  now  related  unto  KaiKhosrau 
the  story  of  Siawush  his  sire,  and,  having  done  so,  he  bare 
him  back  with  him  unto  his  mother.  Then  was  the  Prince 
clad  in  robes  befitting  his  station,  and  from  this  time  forth 
he  was  reared  in  the  bosom  of  Piran,  and  of  Ferangis,  his 
mother,  the  days  rolling  above  their  heads  in  happiness 
and  peace. 

But  alas!  so  could  it  not  ever  be,  for  again  was  Afrasiab 
having  bad  dreams.  So  shortly  it  came  to  pass  that  a  mes- 
senger was  sent  in  great  haste  to  summon  Piran-Wisa  unto 
the  Court.  Then  Afrasiab  said: 

"  O  venerable  Chieftain,  I  have  called  thee  into  my 
presence  because  of  the  disquiet  of  my  heart  on  account  of 
KaiKhosrau,  the  child  of  Siawush.  For  lo!  in  my  dreams 
I  have  beheld  that  he  will  do  much  evil  unto  Turan,  on 
account  of  which,  I  repent  me  of  my  weakness  which  kept 
him  alive.  Bring  him  before  me,  therefore,  that  I  may 
avert  by  his  death  the  avalanche  of  calamity  which  threat- 
eneth." 

Now  when  Piran  heard  these  words  he  was  filled  with 
dismay.  But,  smiling,  he  said  unto  Afrasiab: 

"O  Mighty  King!  Verily  it  grieveth  me  that  thou 
shouldst  have  been  caused  one  minute's  pain  on  account 
of  this  Prince,  who,  though  blessed  with  a  face  like  unto 
that  of  a  Peri,  yet  carrieth  upon  his  shoulders  a  head  ill- 
fitted  to  bear  a  crown,  since  it  is  empty  of  reason.  Commit, 
therefore,  no  violence,  but  suffer  that  this  innocent  one, 
devoid  of  wit,  continue  to  dwell  harmlessly  among  the 
flocks." 


HOW  GEW  HELPED  A  HERO-PRINCE  287 

So  spake  the  great  Piran,  and  Afrasiab  felt  the  burden 
of  his  heart  lighten  as  he  listened  unto  these  reassuring 
words.  Yet  he  said : 

"O  Venerable  One!  Truly  thy  words  are  as  a  comfort- 
ing shadow  in  the  burning  desert.  Nevertheless,  I  say 
unto  thee,  bring  this  KaiKhosrau  before  me  that  I  may 
behold  with  my  own  eyes  his  simplicity." 

And  behold!  Piran  assented  unto  the  King's  request, 
for  he  dared  not  do  otherwise.  So,  returning  unto  his 
house,  he  sought  out  the  young  Prince,  instructing  him 
how  he  should  act.  Then,  arrayed  in  princely  garb,  Kai- 
Khosrau was  conducted  unto  the  Court,  mounted  upon 
a  goodly  charger,  and  surrounded  by  his  retinue. 

Now  all  the  people  shouted  with  delight  when  they  be- 
held the  beauty  and  kingly  mien  of  the  young  Prince,  even 
Afrasiab  being  struck  with  wonder,  as  he  gazed  at  his 
limbs  of  power.  Yea,  so  fearful  was  he  that  he  found  it 
hard,  indeed,  to  remember  the  promise  he  had  given  unto 
Piran — that  no  hair  of  the  boy's  head  should  be  harmed. 
But  relief  was  at  hand.  For  when  the  King  began  to  ques- 
tion, so  well  did  KaiKhosrau  act  his  part,  that  once  again 
was  he  reassured.  Now  Afrasiab  said: 

"Young  Shepherd!  How  knowest  thou  the  day  from 
the  night?  What  doest  thou  with  thy  flocks?  And  how 
countest  thou  thy  sheep  and  thy  goats?" 

Then  KaiKhosrau,  smiling  simply  into  the  face  of  the 
King,  replied: 

"The  forests  are  void  of  game,  and  I  have  neither  bow 
nor  arrows.  But  behold  my  sunny  crown  and  my  golden 
girdle! — only,  they  are  not  for  thee!" 

Now  the  King  smiled  at  this  reply,  and  once  more  he 
questioned,  this  time  as  to  the  milk  given  by  the  flocks. 


288  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

But  KaiKhosrau,  shaking  his  head  sadly,  replied: 

"The  tiger-cats  are  black — black  as  thy  beard!  and 
verily  they  are  not  good  for  playmates,  for  they  have 
prickly  paws." 

Then  Afrasiab  put  yet  a  third  question,  saying: 

"O  noble  youth!    What  is  the  name  of  thy  father?" 

But  KaiKhosrau,  frowning,  said: 

"The  dog  ventureth  not  to  bark  when  a  lion  threateneth. 
But  alas!  there  are  no  lions  now." 

Then  Afrasiab,  questioning  yet  again,  said: 

"O  Valorous  Youth,  desirest  thou  not  to  go  forth  unto 
the  land  of  Iran  that  thou  mayest  be  avenged  of  thy 
foes?" 

But  KaiKhosrau,  winking  drolly  at  the  King,  replied: 

"When  the  leopard  danceth,  then  a  strange  piper  play- 
eth  the  tune:  'Ha!  Ha!  Ho!  Ho!  Prince  KaiKhosrau 
hath  no  foe.'" 

Thus  spake  the  cunning  Prince,  and  Afrasiab,  satisfied 
with  his  answers,  questioned  him  no  more,  but  said  unto 
Piran-Wisa: 

"O  Mighty  One!  Restore  this  boy  unto  his  mother, 
and  let  him  be  reared  with  kindness  in  the  city  that  Sia- 
wush  hath  builded,  for  I  perceive  that  from  him  can  no 
harm  alight  upon  Turan." 

So,  permission  being  given,  quickly  Piran  hastened  to 
remove  KaiKhosrau  from  the  Court,  thanking  God  for  the 
danger  safely  passed  through.  And  behold!  in  the  city  of 
Siawush,  Ferangis  spake  often  unto  her  son  of  his  noble 
sire,  and  of  the  heroes  of  Iran,  his  father's  land;  so  that 
finally  his  heart  burned,  not  only  with  the  desire  for  the 
vengeance  due  unto  Siawush  from  his  son,  but  also  that  he 
might  perform  deeds  worthy  his  glorious  ancestry. 


HOW  GEW  HELPED  A  HERO-PRINCE  289 

So  the  days  and  the  moons  rolled  by  until  the  army  of 
Rustem  invaded  Turan.  Then,  by  the  advice  of  Piran- 
Wisa,  the  young  Prince  and  his  mother  were  led  forth  and 
securely  hidden  in  the  land  of  far  Cathay,  where  they 
remained  for  seven  long  years,  while  Turan  was  given  over 
unto  the  ravages  of  its  foes.  But  behold!  in  the  eighth 
year  Rustem  and  his  heroes  were  summoned  by  the  Shah 
to  return  unto  Iran,  thus  giving  unto  that  cunning  fox, 
Afrasiab,  a  chance  to  creep  forth  from  his  hiding-place. 

Now  the  King  wept  sore  when  he  beheld  the  havoc 
wrought  upon  Turan  by  Rustem  and  his  heroes,  and, 
gathering  together  a  mighty  army,  he  fell  upon  Iran  with 
such  fury  that  none  could  stand  before  him.  Yea,  so 
bitter  was  his  hate  that  he  suffered  not  repose  to  seal  his 
eyelids  until  he  had  shattered  the  Persian  host  and  scathed 
the  land  with  fire  and  sword.  For  alas!  good  fortune  now 
turned  her  face  away  from  Iran;  neither  would  Rustem 
come  forth  unto  her  aid,  since  Kaikous  the  foolish  had 
again  aroused  his  anger. 

But  behold!  at  this  crisis,  it  came  to  pass  that  Gudarz, 
who  was  descended  from  Kavah  the  smith,  dreamed  a 
dream.  Now  in  this  vision  he  beheld  a  cloud  of  rainbow 
hues,  and  seated  upon  it  was  Serosch  the  Blessed.  And 
lo!  the  Angel  of  Pity  said  unto  Gudarz: 

"  O  Hero  of  Iran,  unto  thy  house  is  it  granted,  even  as 
unto  Kavah  of  old,  to  deliver  thy  land  from  anguish  and 
from  the  tyranny  of  Afrasiab  the  Turk,  wherefore,  open 
thine  ears  unto  my  words.  For  lo!  it  hath  been  made 
known  unto  me  by  Ormuzd  the  Omnipotent  that  there 
abideth  in  Turan  a  son  sprung  from  the  loins  of  Siawush, 
who  is  brave  and  worthy  the  throne  of  light,  and  from 
whom  alone  can  come  deliverance  unto  Iran.  Suffer, 


290  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

therefore,  that  Gew,  thy  brave  son,  go  forth  to  search  for 
KaiKhosrau,  bidding  that  he  remain  glued  unto  his  sad- 
dle until  he  shall  have  found  this  youth.  For  such  is  the 
will  of  Him  who  changeth  not,  even  Ormuzd  the  God  of 
the  Persians." 

Now  when  Gudarz  awoke  he  thanked  God  for  his 
dream,  touching  the  ground  with  his  beard.  Then, 
quickly  calling  unto  him  his  valiant  son,  he  related  unto 
him  his  dream,  bidding  him  go  forth  even  as  commanded 
by  the  guardian  of  the  children  of  Ormuzd: 

Then  Gew,  when  he  heard  the  words  of  his  father,  re- 
plied unto  him: 

"O  Glorious  Sire!  Verily  my  heart  leapeth  forth  unto 
this  adventure,  even  as  a  flame  darteth  hungrily  unto  the 
sun.  Give  me,  therefore,  thy  blessing,  and  lo!  I  will  de- 
part this  very  hour." 

But  Gudarz,  smiling  at  the  ardor  of  his  son,  said: 

"What  about  thy  companions,  O  Impetuous  One?" 

To  which  Gew  replied: 

"My  horse  and  my  cord,  O  my  father,  will  suffice  unto 
me  for  company.  For  behold!  if  I  lead  out  a  host  unto 
Turan,  men  will  ask  who  I  am,  and  why  I  have  come 
forth,  while  if  I  go  alone,  these  doubts  will  surely  slumber." 

Then  Gudarz,  well  pleased  at  the  discretion  of  valiant 
Gew,  said: 

"Go,  my  son,  and  may  all  the  hosts  of  Heaven  accom- 
pany thee,  strengthening  thine  arm  and  directing  thy 
way." 

So  Gew  set  forth,  but  no  easy  task  was  his,  as  he  soon 
found.  For,  though  he  wandered  through  the  length  and 
breadth  of  Turan,  he  could  learn  naught  of  KaiKhosrau. 
Now  seven  years  rolled  thus  above  the  head  of  Gew,  until 


HOW  GEW  HELPED  A  HERO-PRINCE    291 

he  grew  lean  and  sorrowful;  yea,  even  like  unto  a  man 
distraught.  For  lo,  in  all  this  time,  naught  had  he  for  a 
house  save  only  his  saddle;  for  food  and  clothing  but  the 
flesh  and  skin  of  the  wild  ass;  and  in  place  of  wine,  naught 
but  bad  water  had  he  to  drink.  So  finally  the  Hero  began 
to  lose  heart,  fearing  that  his  father's  dream  had  been  sent 
unto  him  by  a  wicked  Deev. 

But  arriving  one  day  in  a  desert,  the  Valiant  One  hap- 
pened to  fall  in  with  several  persons  who,  upon  being 
questioned,  said  that  they  had  been  sent  by  Piran-Wisa  in 
search  of  the  great  Shah  Kaikous.  Now  Gew  doubted 
their  story,  and  so  took  care  to  ascertain  from  them  the 
direction  in  which  they  were  travelling,  passing  himself 
off  unto  them  as  a  huntsman,  interested  only  in  the  amuse- 
ment of  snaring  the  wild  ass. 

Now  during  the  night  the  parties  separated,  Gew  pro- 
ceeding like  lightning  upon  the  route  described  by  the 
strangers.  And  behold!  as  morning  dawned,  he  entered  a 
forest,  in  the  midst  of  which  he  suddenly  beheld  a  foun- 
tain, and  seated  beside  it  a  youth  like  unto  a  royal  cy- 
press. Now  the  Glorious  One  held  in  his  hand  a  cup,  and 
upon  his  head  was  a  golden  crown;  noting  which,  Gew 
said  unto  himself: 

"Verily  my  search  is  ended,  for  in  this  youth  surely  I 
behold  the  face  of  noble  Siawush." 

Great  was  his  surprise,  however,  when,  as  he  advanced, 
the  stripling,  greeting  him,  said: 

"Ho,  Valiant  Gew!  Truly  thou  art  a  joy  unto  my  eyes, 
since  thou  art  come  hither  at  the  behest  of  God." 

Then  Gew,  falling  at  the  feet  of  KaiKhosrau,  said: 

"O  Hope  of  Iran!  at  last,  after  seven  long  years  of 
search,  do  I  find  thee.  But  pray,  reveal  unto  me  how  thou 


292  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

knewest  my  face  and  mission,  for  behold!  I  am  lost  in 
amazement." 

Then,  smiling,  KaiKhosrau  replied  unto  Gew: 

"O  Son  of  Gudarz!  Verily  all  the  great  warriors  and 
heroes  of  Iran  are  well  known  unto  me,  for  oft  have  I  gazed 
upon  the  portraits  of  Rustem  and  Tus  and  Gudarz — yea, 
and  of  Valiant  Gew, — in  my  father's  gallery,  while  from 
my  mother's  lips  have  I  heard  again  and  again  of  all  the 
glorious  deeds  wrought  by  the  Pehliva  of  the  Shahs.  And 
alas!  before  he  entered  upon  death — his  cruel  death! — my 
father  foretold  unto  Ferangis,  my  mother,  how  that  in  due 
time  the  mighty  Gew  would  come  forth  from  Iran  to  lead 
me  unto  the  throne." 

Then  Gew,  delighted  with  the  fire  of  the  youth,  and 
being  thus  assured  of  his  identity,  fell  down  upon  the 
ground  and  did  homage  before  him.  But  KaiKhosrau 
quickly  raised  and  embraced  him,  asking  a  thousand 
questions  of  Iran  and  its  heroes. 

But  Gew,  knowing  the  need  of  haste,  quickly  mounted 
the  young  Prince  upon  his  charger,  while  he  walked  before 
him;  and  so  they  journeyed  until  they  came  unto  the  city 
of  Siawush,  and  behold  Ferangis  received  them  joyfully, 
her  quick'  spirit  divining  that  the  prophecy  of  her  lord  had 
come  to  pass.  But  she  also  counselled  haste,  for  she  said: 

"Verily,  Afrasiab  will  be  as  a  raging  crocodile  when  he 
learneth  of  thy  coming.  Let  us  flee  quickly,  therefore,  be- 
fore he  heareth  of  thy  mission.  And  now  give  heed  unto 
my  words.  Lo !  upon  the  crest  of  yonder  mountain,  whose 
head  riseth  unto  the  clouds,  there  smileth  in  the  sunshine 
a  meadow  green  as  paradise,  and  browsing  upon  it  are  the 
flocks  of  Siawush.  Now  in  their  midst,  my  son,  roameth 
Beezah,  thy  father's  steed  of  battle.  Go  forth,  therefore, 


Seated  beside  it  a  youth  like  unto  a  royal  cypress. 


HOW  GEW  HELPED  A  HERO-PRINCE  293 

and  when  thou  hast  come  nigh  unto  him,  whisper  thy 
father's  name  unto  his  ear,  for  so  will  he  suffer  thee  to 
mount  him.  And,  seated  upon  his  back,  thou  shalt  escape 
from  the  slayers  of  thy  father." 

So,  following  the  directions  of  Ferangis,  quickly  Gew 
and  KaiKhosrau  hastened  unto  the  meadow,  where  they 
found  the  steed  of  Siawush  towering  like  a  king  above  his 
fellows.  And  lo!  when  Beezah  beheld  his  master's  sad- 
dle, and  the  leopard-skin  that  he  had  worn,  he  whinnied 
mournfully,  his  bright  eyes  softening  with  sudden  dew. 
Unresisting,  he  suffered  KaiKhosrau  to  mount  him,  and 
behold!  when  they  were  come  again  unto  Ferangis,  she 
chose  from  among  her  treasures  the  armor  of  Siawush,  in 
which  to  gird  her  son,  while  she  herself  donned  a  suit  of 
mail  like  unto  a  warrior.  Now,  thus  equipped,  they 
mounted  their  chargers  and  set  forth.  And  none  too  soon, 
for  almost  at  once  their  flight  was  discovered. 

Then,  when  the  messengers  sent  for  KaiKhosrau  re- 
ported unto  Piran-Wisa  that  the  youth  had  been  carried 
off  by  a  Persian  horseman,  behold,  he  was  filled  with  dis- 
may, saying  unto  himself: 

"Alas!  now  will  be  accomplished  the  fears  of  Afrasiab, 
and  mine  honor  will  be  tarnished  in  his  eyes." 

So  quickly  he  commanded  Kelbad  and  three  hundred 
valiant  warriors  that  they  pursue  KaiKhosrau,  bind  him, 
and  bring  him  back  in  chains.  And  behold!  so  rapid  were 
the  movements  of  Kelbad  that  he  overtook  the  fugitives 
in  the  vicinity  of  Bulgaria. 

Now  as  the  great  chieftain  and  his  party  came  in  sight, 
Ferangis  and  her  son  slept  for  weariness  by  the  roadside. 
But  Gew,  perceiving  an  armed  force  evidently  in  pursuit  of 
his  party,  nastily  donned  his  armor,  mounted  Beezah,  and 


294  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

advanced  single-handed  to  the  charge,  attacking  the 
horsemen  furiously  with  sword  and  mace.  For,  having 
heard  the  prophecy  which  declared  that  KaiKhosrau  was 
destined  to  become  the  great  King  of  Kings,  he  braved 
the  direst  peril  with  confidence  and  the  certainty  of  suc- 
cess. And  it  was  this  feeling,  no  doubt,  that  enabled  Gew 
to  perform  such  prodigies  of  valor.  For,  in  a  very  short 
time  it  came  to  pass  that  Kelbad  and  his  three  hun- 
dred were  utterly  routed.  Then  this  marvellous  victory 
achieved,  quickly  Gew  returned  unto  the  halting-place, 
where,  awakening  his  companions,  he  urged  them  to 
haste. 

But  alas  for  the  defeated  three  hundred!  For  their  re- 
turn excited  the  greatest  indignation  in  the  breast  of 
Piran-Wisa,  who  said  angrily: 

"What!  Three  hundred  soldiers  to  fly  from  the  valor 
of  one  man!  Why,  had  Gew  possessed  the  might  and 
activity  of  Rustem  himself,  such  a  defeat  could  scarcely 
have  happened.  Truly  such  faint-heartedness  maketh  my 
soul  sick  with  shame." 

So  saying,  Piran  and  the  thousand  brave  warriors  under 
his  command  started  at  once  to  overtake  the  fugitives,  and 
so  swift  was  their  march  that  they  soon  overtook  the  Valiant 
Gew  and  his  little  party.  And  now  KaiKhosrau  insisted 
upon  being  allowed  to  act  his  part,  instead  of  remaining 
ignominiously  idle;  but  Gew,  determined  to  preserve  the 
Prince  from  all  risk,  even  at  the  peril  of  his  own  life,  re- 
plied unto  him: 

"Nay!  Nay!  Thou  art  our  Prince,  and  therefore  thy 
life  is  too  precious  to  be  risked.  As  for  me,  if  I  fall,  what 
mattereth  it?  My  father  loveth  me  well,  it  is  true,  but 
hath  he  not  seventy-and-eight  other  sons  like  unto  me? 


HOW  GEW  HELPED  A  HERO-PRINCE  295 

Get  thee  upon  yonder  high  eminence,  therefore,  and  wit- 
ness how  one  man  shall  put  a  thousand  to  flight. 

So,  though  reluctantly,  the  Prince  did  as  Gew  desired, 
and  presently  he  heard  the  mighty  son  of  Gudarz  challenge 
Piran  to  single  combat.  Now  the  contest  that  followed 
was  terrible,  for  though  the  Tartar  general  was  old,  he  was 
both  experienced  and  skilful.  Therefore,  wrapped  about 
with  his  anger,  and  the  fear  of  Afrasiab,  he  was  no  mean 
antagonist.  But  verily  not  even  Rustem  himself  could 
have  stood  against  Gew  upon  this  eventful  day,  for,  realiz- 
ing that  his  opportunity  had  come,  he,  too,  meant  to  have 
his  name  writ  large  on  the  page  of  his  country's  story.  So 
presently,  after  much  courage  and  persistency,  it  came  to 
pass  that  the  Hero  caught  Piran  in  the  meshes  of  his  cord, 
and  brought  him  bound  unto  KaiKhosrau,  in  spite  of  the 
shower  of  arrows  that  rained  upon  him  like  hail  from  the 
bows  of  Piran's  brave  warriors. 

And  behold!  this  deed  of  prowess  accomplished,  back 
again  sped  triumphant  Gew  to  fight  against  the  Tartar 
braves.  Yea,  and  so  great  was  his  prowess  that  soon  the 
plain  was  covered  with  the  vanquished  dead,  while  living 
warriors,  dismayed  at  the  sight  of  such  mighty  valor,  igno- 
miniously  fled  in  all  directions,  as  though  pursued  by 
Rustem,  or  the  Great  White  Deev.  So,  the  enemy  being 
put  to  flight,  once  more  Gew  returned  unto  his  compan- 
ions. But  great  was  his  surprise  to  behold  Piran-Wisa 
still  alive.  In  explanation,  however,  Ferangis,  whose  eyes 
were  full  of  tears,  said: 

"O  Mighty  Gew,  marvel  not  that  the  sword  of  Siawush 
refuseth  to  take  the  life  of  this  good  old  man,  whose  ten- 
derness hath  ever  been  an  asylum  unto  our  sorrows.  Again 
and  again  hath  he  saved  the  life  of  the  Prince,  as  well  as 


296  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

my  own,  and  had  he  been  ever  at  Afrasiab's  right  hand, 
then  verily  would  Siawush  still  be  in  the  land  of  the  living, 
for  Piran  was  ever  his  friend.  And  lo!  now  is  the  time 
come  for  us  to  remember  the  benefits  that  we  have  re- 
ceived at  his  hands." 

But  Gew,  filled  with  consternation,  replied  unto  the 
pleadings  of  Ferangis: 

"O  Queen  of  the  World,  I  pray  thee  speak  not  thus. 
For  alas!  I  have  sworn  a  great  oath  that  I  would  crimson 
the  earth  with  Piran's  blood,  and  how  can  I  depart  from 
my  vow?" 

Now  hearing  this,  Ferangis  was  very  sorrowful,  but 
KaiKhosrau  said: 

"O  Hero  like  unto  a  mountain  lion,  verily  thou  shalt 
not  break  thy  oath;  neither  shalt  thou  slay  this  good  old 
man.  I  say  unto  thee,  therefore,  pierce  with  thy  dagger 
the  lobes  of  Piran's  ears,  and  let  the  blood  stain  the  earth. 
Thus  may  thy  oath  and  my  clemency  both  be  satisfied." 

So  Gew  did  as  KaiKhosrau  desired,  and  lo !  when  he  had 
crimsoned  the  earth  with  Piran's  blood,  they  mounted  him 
upon  his  charger,  and,  after  binding  him  thereon,  they  caused 
him  to  swear  unto  them  that  none  other  than  Gulshehr,  his 
wife,  should  release  him  from  his  bonds.  And  Piran  sware 
it,  for  he  had  not  hoped  to  escape  from  the  terrible  Gew. 

But  behold!  while  these  things  were  happening  unto 
Piran,  Afrasiab,  growing  impatient  as  he  heard  not  of  the 
capture  of  the  Prince,  set  forth  himself  at  the  head  of  a 
great  army  that  he  might  lend  his  assistance.  But  alas1 
when  he  learned  that  the  armies  had  been  beaten  at  the 
hands  of  one  man,  his  cheeks  grew  pale  with  fear.  Nev- 
ertheless, he  pressed  on,  but  only  to  be  met  in  a  short  time 
by  Piran,  his  Pehliva,  tied  helpless  upon  his  charger. 


HOW  GEW  HELPED  A  HERO-PRINCE  297 

Now  at  this  sight  the  King's  anger  passed  all  bounds. 
Reviling  the  old  man,  therefore,  he  commanded  him  that 
he  depart  from  out  his  presence  forever.  Then,  urging 
rapidly  forward  his  army,  he  sware  a  great  oath  that  he 
himself  would  destroy  this  Gew,  and  utterly  lay  low  the 
head  of  KaiKhosrau  and  of  Ferangis,  his  mother.  And 
that  the  fugitives  might  not  escape  him,  at  once  he  sent  in- 
structions unto  all  the  ferrymen  of  the  Jihun  that  they 
allow  not  the  three  travellers  to  pass  over  the  river,  as  he 
himself  was  in  pursuit  of  them.  But  alas!  even  this 
thoughtfulness  availed  him  naught,  for  ere  they  came  nigh 
unto  the  fleeing  ones,  behold,  they  were  already  come  unto 
the  banks  of  the  river. 

And  lo!  on  the  brink  of  the  rushing  stream  their  glad 
eyes  perceived  a  boat  lying  ready,  with  a  ferryman  slum- 
bering beside  it.  Now  quickly  Gew  aroused  the  sleeping 
one,  asking  that  he  bear  them  across  the  river.  But  the 
man,  having  received  the  King's  instructions,  parleyed  with 
Gew,  saying: 

"Ho,  Imperious  One!  Thy  business  demandeth  haste? 
Well,  then,  give  unto  me  thy  coat  of  mail,  thy  black 
horse,  yon  woman,  or  the  crown  of  gold  worn  by  the  young 
warrior,  as  my  fee,  and  quickly  shalt  thou  be  borne  across." 

But  Gew,  angry  at  the  effrontery  of  the  boatmen,  also 
suspecting  his  intentions,  whispered  unto  the  Prince: 

"  Behold,  yonder  cloud  of  dust  seemeth  to  speak  of  pur- 
suers and  to  warn  against  delay;  also,  I  trust  not  this  fer- 
ryman. Now  when  Kavah,  my  brave  ancestor,  rescued 
the  glorious  Feridoun,  he  passed  over  the  stream  in  his 
armor  without  hurt.  Why  should  not  we,  then,  in  a  cause 
of  equal  glory,  do  the  same?" 

But  alas!  the  river  was  swollen  by  the  rains,  its  current 


298  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

being  swift  and  treacherous.  Nevertheless,  the  young 
Prince,  confiding  in  the  protection  of  the  Almighty,  fear- 
lessly urged  his  foaming  steed  into  the  boiling  surges. 
And  behold!  Ferangis  followed  with  equal  intrepidity, 
while  after  her  came  Gew  the  bold.  Now  the  passage  was 
rough  and  perilous,  but  nevertheless,  after  a  hard  fight, 
they  all  succeeded  in  gaining  the  opposite  shore,  much  to 
the  amazement  of  the  ferryman,  who  had  thought,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  that  they  would  all  be  drowned.  Feeling 
the  soil  of  Iran  beneath  their  feet,  however,  KaiKhosrau, 
dismounting,  kissed  the  earth  in  gratitude  and  joy,  giving 
thanks  unto  Ormuzd  for  allowing  him  to  escape  in  safety 
unto  his  father's  land. 

Yet  scarce  had  they  escaped.  For  behold!  even  as  they 
touched  the  shore,  Afrasiab  and  his  army  were  come  unto 
the  river.  Now  great  was  the  mortification  of  the  King 
when  he  beheld  the  fugitives  beyond  his  reach.  Neverthe- 
less, his  wonder  was  equal  to  his  disappointment;  nor 
could  he  withhold  his  admiration  as  he  gazed,  saying: 

"What  spirits  must  they  have  to  brave 
The  terrors  of  that  boiling  wave — 
With  steed  and  harness,  riding  o'er 
The  billows  to  the  farther  shore. 
— It  was  a  cheering  sight,  they  say, 
To  see  how  well  they  kept  their  way, 
How  Ferangis  impelled  her  horse 
Across  that  awful  torrent's  course, 
Guiding  him  with  heroic  hand, 
To  reach  unhurt  the  friendly  stand." 

Howbeit,  when  Afrasiab  recovered  from  his  astonish- 
ment, in  his  anger  and  chagrin,  he  ordered  the  ferrymen 
to  get  ready  their  boats  to  pass  him  over  the  river;  but 


HOW  GEW  HELPED  A  HERO-PRINCE  299 

Human  finally  dissuaded  him  from  this  foolish  measure. 
So,  devoured  with  wrath  and  fear,  Afrasiab  retraced  his 
steps  unto  his  capital,  knowing  that  now  his  dream  would 
surely  be  fulfilled. 

As  for  Valiant  Gew,  at  once  he  sent  swift  messengers 
unto  the  Court  to  bear  unto  the  Shah  the  news  of  the  com- 
ing of  the  Prince.  Whereupon,  Kaikous  rejoiced  exceed- 
ingly, sending  forth  an  honorary  deputation  to  escort  his 
grandson  into  his  presence.  Now  the  city  was  decked  to 
give  him  welcome,  and  all  the  nobles  received  him  joyfully 
as  the  heir  unto  the  throne — all  excepting  Tus,  the  son  of 
King  Nuder,  who  gave  his  fealty  unto  Friburz,  the  son  of 
Kaikous.  Nor  was  his  opposition  passive.  For,  when 
invitations  were  issued  unto  a  banquet  in  honor  of  Kai- 
Khosrau,  at  which  all  the  great  heroes  and  leaders  were 
expected  publicly  to  declare  their  loyalty  unto  the  new 
Prince,  Tus  refused  to  go.  However,  his  refusal  was  not 
accepted,  Gew  being  deputed  to  repeat  the  invitation.  But 
alas!  unto  all  Gew's  arguments,  Tus  stubbornly  replied: 

"Verily,  unto  Friburz  shall  I  pay  homage,  and  unto 
none  other." 

Now  when  Gew  reported  unto  Gudarz,  his  father,  what 
had  occurred,  the  old  man  was  aroused  to  great  wrath. 
Rising  up,  therefore,  at  once  he  took  twelve  thousand  men, 
and  his  seventy-eight  kinsmen,  together  with  Gew,  and 
proceeded  unto  the  palace  of  Tus  to  bring  him  to  reason. 
So,  almost  was  there  civil  war  in  Persia;  but  finally  Tus, 
who  disliked  the  thought  of  such  a  calamity,  sent  an  envoy 
unto  Gudarz,  suggesting  that  the  matter  be  referred  unto 
the  King.  So  one  wise  in  speech  appeared  before  Kaikous, 
begging  that  he  would  settle  the  strife  among  the  nobles. 
For  he  said: 


300  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

"Alas,  O  King!  If  we  are  divided  among  ourselves, 
surely  we  shall  fall  a  prey  unto  Afrasiab.  Let  the  Shah, 
therefore,  bind  up  this  quarrel  which  already  is  serious, 
and  let  us  once  more  have  peace." 

Then  Kaikous,  realizing  the  seriousness  of  the  matter, 
said  gravely  unto  the  envoy: 

"Verily,  ye  ask  of  me  that  which  is  hard,  for  both  my 
sons  are  dear  unto  me.  Nevertheless,  I  will  bethink  me  of 
a  means  to  quiet  this  discussion  and  restore  peace." 

Now  Kaikous  pondered  deeply  over  this  troublesome 
question,  but  finally,  calling  his  nobles  together,  he  said: 

"O  Heroes  of  Iran,  give  heed  unto  my  words,  for  verily 
I  have  thought  of  a  plan  which  shall  settle  this  strife. 
Behold!  upon  the  borders  of  my  dominion  there  is  a 
demon-fortress  which  no  hero  hath  yet  conquered.  Let 
KaiKhosrau  and  Friburz  go  forth,  therefore,  and  let  them 
take  with  them  an  army,  and  lo!  I  will  bestow  the  crown 
and  treasure  upon  the  Prince  at  whose  hands  the  castle 
shall  be  subdued." 

Thus  spake  Kaikous,  and  the  plan  being  agreed  upon, 
Friburz  begged  of  his  father  that  he  be  sent  forth  first  upon 
the  expedition.  So,  permission  being  given,  gaily  he  and 
Tus  set  out,  promising  to  return  triumphant  within  a  few 
days. 

But  alas!  when  the  army  reached  the  demon  fort,  lo! 
the  ground  seemed  all  in  flames — one  universal  fire  raging 
round  and  round,  while  the  withering  wind  which  blew 
from  thence  was  like  unto  the  scorching  breath  of  red-hot 
furnaces.  And  behold!  though  they  searched  and  searched, 
these  warriors  brave  could  find  neither  gate  nor  door  of 
entrance,  though  many  a  valiant  one  perished  in  the 
search,  consumed  to  ashes  by  the  awful  heat,  which  seemed 


HOW  GEW  HELPED  A  HERO-PRINCE  301 

to  be  the  poisoned  breath  of  raging  demons.  So  at  length, 
after  a  fruitless  week,  Friburz  and  Tus  returned,  worn  out, 
scorched,  and  half-dead  with  watching,  care,  and  toil — 
and  still  the  fortress  stood. 

So,  it-  being  now  KaiKhosrau's  turn,  bravely  he  set  forth 
with  Gew  and  Gudarz,  his  faithful  friends,  and  when  he 
saw  the  blazing  fort,  reddening  all  the  earth  and  sky,  full 
well  he  knew  that  this  could  only  be  the  work  of  sorcery. 
And  so,  since  in  a  heavenly  dream  he  had  been  taught  how 
to  destroy  the  charms  of  fell  magicians,  he  wrote  a  letter, 
amber-perfumed,  in  which  he  named  the  name  of  God. 
Then  piously  he  bound  it  unto  his  javelin's  point,  and  when 
he  was  come  nigh  unto  the  demon  fort,  behold,  Gew  the 
Valiant,  flung  it  far  beyond  the  walls  within  the  magic 
citadel. 

And  lo!  the  missile  safely  lodged,  a  noise  like  thunder 
rent  the  air,  and  all  the  world  grew  dark,  as  when  the  sun 
hath  gone  to  rest.  Yea,  and  long  it  so  remained,  but 
when  at  last  once  more  the  light  appeared,  behold,  the 
magic  tower  had  vanished  from  the  earth. 

Now  thus  it  was  that  KaiKhosrau  vanquished  the  de- 
mons, and  thus  it  was  also  that  at  last  he  came  into  his  own. 
For,  shortly  after  this  wondrous  victory,  the  coronation 
ceremony  took  place  with  great  pomp  and  splendor,  Kai- 
Khosrau the  Prince  becoming  KaiKhosrau  the  Shah,  of 
whom  the  poet  says: 

"Justice  he  spread  with  equal  hand, 
Rooting  oppression  from  the  land; 
And  every  desert,  wood,  and  wild, 
With  early  cultivation  smiled; 
And  every  plain  with  verdure  clad, 
And  every  Persian  heart  was  glad." 


LATER  FEATS  OF  RUSTEM 

NOW  in  the  Book  of  the  Kings  it  is  written  that  when 
KaiKhosrau  ascended  the  throne,  Kaikous  re- 
quired him  to  swear  a  great  oath  that  the  waters 
of  forgetfulness  should  never  quench  the  flame  of  vengeance 
in  his  heart  until  Afrasiab,  the  murderer  of  Siawush,  be 
utterly  destroyed. 

So,  when  he  was  well  settled  upon  his  throne,  KaiKhosrau 
sent  forth  a  great  army  under  the  leadership  of  Tus  to 
begin  his  work  of  vengeance.  But  alas!  Tus,  though 
brave,  was  hot-headed  and  touchy;  yea,  and  disobedient, 
thereby  bringing  unto  death  Firoud,  the  valiant  half- 
brother  of  KaiKhosrau.  When  brought  face  to  face  with 
the  enemy,  however,  he  and  his  men  fought  bravely,  but 
all  to  no  purpose. 

For  lo!  Afrasiab  had  sent  Baru,  a  magician  perfect  in 
his  art,  upon  the  neighboring  mountains  to  involve  them 
in  darkness,  and  to  produce,  by  his  conjuring,  fearful 
downfalls  of  snow  and  hail.  Accordingly,  when  Tus  and 
his  army  advanced,  they  were  deluged  by  a  fearful  down- 
pour of  rain  and  sleet,  so  that  not  even  the  fierce  conflict 
with  Piran's  brave  warriors  warmed  their  blood,  which 
seemed  frozen  in  their  veins.  So  the  army  of  Iran  suffered 
a  great  defeat,  and  so  terrible  was  their  suffering  from  the 
mighty  cold,  that  the  living  envied  their  dead  comrades. 

Now  in  this  extremity  Tus  and  Gudarz  prayed  earnestly 
unto  Ormuzd,  when  lo!  the  Angel  Serosch  appeared  unto 
302 


LATER  FEATS  OF  RUSTEM  303 

them,  pointing  unto  the  mountain  from  whence  the  tem- 
pest descended.  Quickly,  then,  brave  Gudarz  galloped 
unto  the  summit,  where  he  discovered  the  magician  deeply 
engaged  in  incantation  and  witchcraft.  Hesitating  not, 
therefore,  he  hastily  drew  his  sword  and  cut  off  the 
wizard's  arms.  Then  suddenly  a  great  whirlwind  arose, 
sweeping  away  the  darkness  that  prevailed,  and  then  noth- 
ing remained  of  the  snow,  the  hail,  or  the  cold.  And  now, 
the  armies  being  upon  a  more  equal  footing,  behold,  the 
heroes  of  Iran  fought  so  valiantly  that  soon  they  won  a 
glorious  victory. 

Then  Tus  was  glad,  and  to  celebrate  the  victory  he 
made  a  great  feast,  darkening  the  heads  of  his  warriors 
with  wine.  But  presently  when  the  revelry  was  at  its 
height,  and  when  Gudarz  alone  was  master  of  his  fate, 
behold,  Afrasiab  was  upon  them,  and  then  fearful  was 
the  slaughter  and  utter  the  defeat  of  Iran.  And  thus 
ended  the  campaign  of  Tus,  for  when  KaiKhosrau  learned 
of  his  folly  he  bade  Friburz,  the  son  of  Kaikous,  take  unto 
him  the  flag  of  Kavah,  and  the  golden  boots,  and  lead  the 
army  in  place  of  Tus. 

So  Friburz,  after  he  had  reorganized  and  reinforced 
the  army,  once  again  offered  battle  unto  Piran-Wisa,  and 
there  was  waged  a  conflict  such  as  the  sun  hath  ne'er 
looked  upon.  But  alas!  the  heroes  of  Iran  were  utterly 
routed;  and  as  the  handful  of  survivors  appeared  before 
the  Shah,  lo,  they  carried  their  hands  crossed  upon  their 
breasts,  and  they  were  humble  as  slaves.  Then  was  Kai- 
Khossau  sick  with  shame  when  he  beheld  this  sorry  lot  of 
heroes,  and  in  his  sore  displeasure  he  withdrew  from  his 
courts,  letting  not  the  light  of  his  countenance  shine  upon 
his  people. 


304  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

So,  in  their  sorrow  and  desperation,  once  more  the  no- 
bles hastened  unto  Seistan,  beseeching  Rustem  to  come 
unto  their  aid.  And  the  Mighty  One,  tarrying  not  for 
rest,  quickly  came  forth,  mustering  and  putting  the  army 
into  battle  order.  And  behold!  when  again  the  two  op- 
posing forces  were  met  in  conflict,  the  day  belonged  unto 
Iran. 

Then  Afrasiab,  hearing  of  the  arrival  of  Rustem,  imme- 
diately called  unto  his  aid  three  distinguished  champions: 
Shinkul,  Khakan,  and  Kamus.  Now  all  these  warriors 
had  wondrous  records — Kamus  particularly: 

"For  when  he  frowned,  the  air  grew  freezing  cold; 
And  when  he  smiled,  the  genial  spring  smiled  down 
Roses  and  hyacinths,  and  all  was  brightness!" 

Now  upon  the  arrival  of  the  three  champions,  it  was  to 
the  great  Kamus  that  Piran  first  paid  his  respects,  describ- 
ing unto  him,  in  glowing  colors,  the  strength  and  prowess 
of  Rustem.  But  Kamus,  in  nowise  disturbed,  replied 
coolly  unto  Piran: 

"Is  praise  like  this  to  Rustem  due? 

And  what  if  all  thou  sayest  be  true  ? 

Are  his  large  limbs  of  iron  made? 

Will  they  resist  my  trenchant  blade? 

His  head  may  now  his  shoulders  grace, 

But  will  it  long  retain  its  place? 
•  Let  me  but  meet  him  in  the  fight, 

And  thou  shalt  see  Kamus's  might ! " 

But  alas!  when  Kamus  the  confident  challenged  Rus- 
tem, quickly  the  Hero  despatched  him.  Yea,  and  not  only 
him,  but  Shinkul  and  Khakan  as  well.  Then  was  Afra- 
siab terrified,  and  quickly  he  sent  Piran- Wisa  forth  to  sue 


ly  engaged  in  incantation  and  witchcraft. 


LATER  FEATS  OF  RUSTEM  305 

for  peace.  And  Rustem  spake  graciously  unto  the  old 
general,  giving  unto  him  greeting  from  KaiKhosrau,  and 
lauding  him  for  his  good  deeds  unto  Siawush,  and  unto 
Sohrab,  his  son.  And  he  said: 

"O  Grand  Old  Hero,  truly  thou  art  worthy  a  better 
master  than  black-hearted  Afrasiab.  Come  over  unto 
Iran,  therefore,  and  thou  shalt  have  honor,  and  happiness, 
and  riches  while  thou  livest,  for  nightly  KaiKhosrau  and 
his  mother  behold  thy  face  in  their  dreams,  and  much 
they  long  to  see  thee." 

But  Piran,  with  tears  in  his  eyes,  said  unto  Rustem: 

"O  Hero  of  Heroes!  For  five  hundred  years  have  I 
served  Turan,  my  native  land,  and  though  my  heart  goeth 
out  unto  KaiKhosrau,  my  son,  yet  can  I  not  prove  unfaith- 
ful unto  those  who  rely  upon  my  good  faith.  So  did  not 
brave  Siawush;  and  Turan,  too,  hath  her  heroes,  O  Mighty 
One,  even  as  Iran  the  land  of  light." 

Now  Rustem's  heart  went  out  in  admiration  unto  this 
splendid  old  hero,  and  he  said: 

"O  noble  Pehliva!  verily  I  give  thee  honor  for  thy 
loyalty  and  faith,  even  while  I  grieve  that  Iran  cannot  pos- 
sess thee.  As  for  the  terms  of  peace,  KaiKhosrau  de- 
sireth  naught  but  that  the  murderers  of  Siawush  be 
delivered  into  his  hands." 

Then  Piran  said  sadly  unto  Rustem: 

"O  gracious  Pehliva,  that  which  thou  asketh,  verily  it 
can  never  be.  For  the  slayers  of  Siawush  are  near  kins- 
folk unto  Afrasiab,  who  will  never  give  them  up." 

So,  as  naught  could  be  done,  the  Heroes  parted  sadly, 
but  in  friendship,  even  though  they  knew  that  battle  must 
rage  between  them.  And  behold!  once  more  the  opposing 
forces  were  drawn  up  for  conflict. 


306  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

"Now  'twas  mid -day  when  the  strife  began, 
With  steed  to  steed  and  man  to  man; 
And  clouds  of  dust  that  rolled  on  high, 
Threw  darkness  o'er  the  earth  and  sky. 
Each  soldier  on  the  other  rushed, 
And  every  blade  with  crimson  blushed, 
And  valiant  hearts  were  trod  upon, 

Like  sand  beneath  the  horse's  feet. 
And  when  the  warrior's  life  was  gone, 

His  mail  became  his  winding  sheet." 

And  alas!  for  forty  days  the  battle  raged  thus,  until  the 
plains  were  so  strewn  with  the  bodies  of  the  slain  that  an 
ant  could  not  have  found  a  road  to  pass  between  them. 
Now  blood  flowed  upon  all  sides,  and  heads  without 
bodies,  and  bodies  without  heads,  covered  the  ground. 
For  neither  the  claws  of  the  leopard  nor  the  trunk  of  the 
elephant,  neither  the  high  mountains  nor  the  waters  of 
the  earth,  could  prevail  against  Rustem  when  he  fought 
at  the  head  of  his  hosts. 

Now  he  slew  the  mightiest  of  the  Tartars,  and  only 
good  old  Piran  was  he  mindful  to  spare;  yea,  and  when 
the  remnant  of  the  host  finally  fled  before  his  wrath,  he 
pursued  them  even  unto  the  mountains,  where  Afrasiab 
and  his  kinsfolk,  in  their  terror,  had  hidden  themselves, 
and  he  destroyed  his  courts  utterly  with  fire,  after  which 
he  turned  him  back  unto  Iran.  Then  the  heart  of  KaiKhos- 
rau  rejoiced  like  unto  a  paradise,  and  for  a  month  Rustem 
abode  in  his  presence,  feasted  and  lauded  continually,  after 
which  he  returned  once  more  unto  Seistan. 

"And  now  we  come  to  Akwan  Dew, 
Whom  Rustem  next  in  combat  slew." 

For  it  is  related  that  one  day  shortly  after  Rustem' s 
return  unto  Seistan,  as  KaiKhosrau  was  sitting  in  his 


LATER  FEATS  OF  RUSTEM  307 

beautiful  garden  abounding  in  roses  and  the  balmy  luxu- 
riance of  spring,  surrounded  by  his  heroes,  and  enjoying 
the  pleasures  of  the  banquet,  lo,  a  shepherd  came  unto  the 
Court  demanding  audience,  and  when  it  was  granted  he 
said: 

"O  King  of  Kings!  Behold,  a  wild  ass  is  broken  in 
among  my  horses,  and  he  doeth  great  mischief,  for  his 
ferocity  is  that  of  a  lion  or  a  demon.  Send  forth,  there- 
fore, I  entreat  thee,  one  of  thy  heroes  that  he  may  slay 
him,  else  am  I  ruined." 

Now  the  Shah  knew  right  well  that  this  was  no  wild  ass, 
but  the  evil  Deev,  Akwan  Dew,  who  had  taken  upon  him 
this  disguise.  And  knowing  that  none  but  Rustem  would 
be  equal  to  this  adventure,  a  swift  messenger  was  at  once 
sent  unto  Seistan  to  summon  him  forth.  And  the  Mighty 
One  obeyed  the  voice  of  the  Shah,  for  he  was  weary  of 
inactivity,  and  this  promised  to  be  an  exciting  adventure. 

So  presently,  guided  by  the  shepherds,  Rustem  set 
forth,  but  it  was  not  until  the  fourth  day  of  his  search  that 
he  fell  in  with  the  Deev.  Now  being  anxious  to  take  this 
wicked  one  alive  in  order  to  send  him  as  a  trophy  unto 
KaiKhosrau,  the  Hero  tried  to  throw  his  cord  about  him. 
But  behold!  in  a  moment  the  wild  ass  vanished  under  his 
hand.  Whereupon,  Rustem  knew  that  it  was  really 
Akwan  Dew  with  whom  he  had  to  deal,  and  that  he  must 
fight  against  the  powers  of  magic.  Yet  was  he  not  dis- 
mayed. 

And  now,  the  wild  ass  again  appearing,  lo,  Rustem  pur- 
sued him  with  his  drawn  sword.  When  he  would  have 
run  him  through,  however,  behold!  the  weapon  cut  naught 
but  the  empty  air,  for  again  the  Deev  had  vanished  under 
his  hands.  Then,  disappointed  with  his  sword,  the  Hero 


PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 


tried  both  spear  and  arrow,  but  still  to  no  purpose,  for 
again  and  yet  again  the  wicked  one  escaped  his  blows  by 
vanishing.  And  alas!  thus  for  three  days  and  nights  Rus- 
tem  fought,  as  it  were,  against  a  shadow.  Wearied  at 
last,  with  his  fruitless  exertions,  however,  presently  he 
dismounted,  and  leading  Rakush  unto  a  green  spot  near 
a  limpid  fountain,  he  allowed  him  to  graze,  while  he 
himself  went  to  sleep. 

But  lo !  when  the  Deev  saw  that  Rustem  slept,  he  rushed 
toward  him  like  a  whirlwind,  and,  rapidly  digging  up  the 
ground  on  every  side,  took  up  the  plot  of  ground  and  the 
Champion  together,  placed  them  upon  his  head,  and  de- 
liberately walked  away  with  them.  Howbeit,  at  this 
critical  moment  Rakush,  beholding  the  peril  of  his  master, 
neighed  loudly,  thus  awaking  Rustem.  And  lo!  when  the 
Hero  saw  what  had  befallen,  he  feared  his  hour  was  come, 
yet  he  did  not  despair.  The  Deev,  however,  seeing  that 
his  captive  was  awake,  said  unto  him: 

"Warrior !  now  no  longer  free ! 
Tell  me  what  thy  wish  may  be; 
Shall  I  plunge  thee  in  the  sea, 

Or  leave  thee  on  the  mountain  drear, 

None  to  give  thee  succor  near? 
Tell  thy  wish  to  me!" 

Now  Rustem,  knowing  that  the  Deevs  act  ever  by  the 
rule  of  contraries,  and  realizing  that  if  thrown  into  the  sea 
his  chance  for  escape  would  be  better,  quickly  said  unto 
the  Deev: 

"O,  plunge  me  not  in  the  roaring  sea, 
The  maw  of  a  fish  is  no  home  for  me; 
But  cast  me  forth  on  the  mountain;  there 
Is  the  lion's  haunt  and  the  tiger's  lair; 


LATER  FEATS  OF  RUSTEM  309 

And  for  them  I  shall  be  a  morsel  of  food, 
They  will  eat  my  flesh  and  drink  my  blood; 
But  my  bones  will  be  left  to  show  the  place 
Where  this  form  was  devoured  by  the  feline  race; 
Yes,  something  will  then  remain  of  me, 
Whilst  nothing  escapes  from  the  roaring  sea!" 

Thus  spake  Rustem  in  his  guile,  and  well  for  him  was 
it  that  his  mind  was  so  fertile  in  invention.  For  behold! 
the  wicked  Akwan  Dew,  having  learned  the  particular  de- 
sire of  the  Hero,  quickly  raised  him  up  with  his  hands  and 
flung  him  from  his  lofty  height  headlong  into  the  deep 
and  roaring  ocean,  at  a  spot  where  hungry  crocodiles  would 
devour  him. 

And  alas!  scarcely  had  the  Champion  touched  the  water, 
when  one  of  these  horrible  creatures  speedily  darted  upon 
him  with  the  eager  intention  of  devouring  him  alive.  But 
in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  Rustem  drew  his  sword  and 
severed  the  monster's  head.  Then  quickly  another  came, 
and  was  put  to  death  in  the  same  manner,  and  the  water 
was  crimsoned  with  blood.  And  while  the  Hero  fought 
the  crocodiles  with  his  right  hand,  with  his  left  he  swam 
toward  the  shore,  and  though  long  was  the  struggle  and 
sore,  yet  finally,  when  night  was  fallen,  he  at  last  suc- 
ceeded in  putting  his  foot  upon  the  dry  land.  Then,  when 
he  had  given  thanks  unto  Ormuzd,  and  rested  him,  he 
returned  unto  the  spot  by  the  fountain. 

But  here  a  most  unpleasant  surprise  awaited  him,  for 
Rakush,  his  steed,  was  not  there.  Then  fear  fell  upon 
Rustem,  and  eagerly  he  wandered  about  seeking  his 
matchless  charger;  but  in  vain,  until  at  last,  coming  unto 
a  green  meadow,  he  spied  him  among  the  horses  of  Afra- 
siab.  For  alas !  while  the  Champion  was  fighting  the  croco- 


310  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

diles  and  the  mighty  surges  of  the  ocean,  the  keepers  had 
succeeded  in  ensnaring  Rakush. 

When  the  mighty  war-horse  heard  the  soft  whistle  of 
his  master,  however,  he  neighed  joyously,  and  brake  from 
the  keepers,  running  with  swift  foot  unto  Rustem,  rub- 
bing his  nose  gently  against  his  shoulder,  as  if  to  make  sure 
it  was  really  he.  But  no  sooner  had  the  Hero  mounted,  than 
horse  and  rider  of  one  accord  made  a  swift  dash  for  the 
keepers,  right  speedily  running  them  down,  and  despatch- 
ing them.  Then  Rustem  took  the  herds,  together  with 
four  white  elephants,  unto  himself. 

But  presently,  as  the  Hero  tarried  in  the  midst  of  the 
herds,  Afrasiab  whose  heart  yearned  to  look  upon  his 
favorite  steeds,  came  forth  from  his  hiding-place,  dream- 
ing not  that  his  enemy  was  near.  When  he  beheld  Rus- 
tem, therefore,  he  was  dismayed,  for  he  thought  that  the 
Champion  had  discovered  his  hiding-place  and  was  come 
forth  to  take  him.  So,  quickly  he  offered  battle  unto  the 
Pehliva,  supported  by  those  who  were  with  him.  But 
alas  for  Afrasiab!  for  again  Rustem  fought  with  such 
might  that  he  quickly  overcame  the  whole  force,  slaying 
sixty  with  his  sword  and  forty  with  his  mace.  Then  the 
King,  terrified,  fled  swiftly  and  silently  away  unto  a  new 
hiding-place,  lamenting  anew  his  bitter  fate. 

Now  Rustem  longed  to  pursue  Afrasiab,  but  at  this  mo- 
ment Akwan  Dew  came  forth  once  more,  thinking  that 
after  such  a  strenuous  fight  the  Hero  would  fall  an  easy 
prey  into  his  hands.  But  Rustem,  springing  quickly  upon 
him,  struck  such  a  mighty  blow  with  his  sword  that  lo!  the 
Deev's  head  rolled  off,  before  that  he  could  vanish  by 
magic,  as  before.  Then  triumphantly  Rustem  returned 
unto  the  Court,  bearing  with  him,  as  trophies  of  his  advent- 


LATER  FEATS  OF  RUSTEM  311 

ure,  Afrasiab's  favorite  steeds,  and  the  hideous  head  of 
the  wicked  Akwan  Dew,  who  would  trouble  the  world  no 
more  with  his  wickedness  and  tricks  of  sorcery. 

So  ended  Rustem's  adventure  with  the  Deev,  but  behold! 
another  was  soon  to  follow,  and  this  was  nothing  less  than 
his  conflict  with  the  Champion  Barzu.  Yea,  and  almost 
was  this  the  Hero's  last  combat — so  mighty  was  the  prowess 
of  this  giant,  especially  trained  by  Afrasiab  to  cause  the 
world  to  become  dark  unto  Rustem. 

Now  when  KaiKhosrau  learned  that  Afrasiab  had  put 
into  the  field  against  him  ten  thousand  experienced  horse- 
men, under  Barzu,  his  mighty  champion,  he  was  amazed; 
for  he  had  not  dreamed  that  so  soon  after  his  overwhelm- 
ing defeat  he  could  place  another  large  army  in  commis- 
sion. However,  he  ordered  Tus  and  Friburz,  with  twelve 
thousand  horsemen,  to  go  forth  at  once,  while  he  prepared 
to  follow  later  with  a  still  larger  force.  Yea,  and  he  sent 
for  Rustem  also,  for  this  time  he  hoped  to  exterminate 
utterly,  not  only  Afrasiab,  but  all  his  kin. 

But  alas!  before  KaiKhosrau  arrived  at  the  front  Barzu 
and  Tus  had  engaged  in  a  terrible  battle,  which  resulted 
in  a  glorious  victory  for  the  men  of  Turan.  Yea,  and 
worse!  for  so  terrible  was  the  might  of  Barzu,  that  in  the 
end,  all  the  Persians  fled,  leaving  Tus  and  Friburz  to  fall 
into  the  hands  of  the  Tartars.  Quickly,  however,  Rustem 
hastened  to  the  rescue  of  the  two  heroes,  taking  with  him 
Gustahem,  the  brother  of  Tus. 

Now  the  two  warriors  stole  softly  into  the  enemy's  camp, 
and  by  chance  they  came  unto  the  tent  of  the  King,  wherein 
they  found  what  they  sought.  For  behold!  Afrasiab  was 
seated  upon  his  throne,  with  Barzu  upon  his  right  hand, 
and  Piran-Wisa  upon  his  left,  while  Tus  and  Friburz  stood 


312  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

in  chains  before  them.  And,  listening,  the  two  warriors 
heard  the  King  say  unto  the  captive  Princes: 

"Sleep  well,  O  Persian  Dogs!  for  to-morrow  shall  ye 
behold  the  sun  rise  for  the  last  time,  since  ye  are  sen- 
tenced to  die  the  death  of  Siawush." 

Thus  spake  black-hearted  Afrasiab,  and  departed, 
leaving  the  prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the  guards.  Then 
Rustem,  requesting  Gustahem  to  follow  cautiously,  drew 
near  and  waited  until  the  watchmen  were  off  their  guard. 
Then  silently  they  overpowered  and  killed  them,  stealing 
softly  away  with  their  prisoners,  without  being  discovered, 
and  behold!  great  was  the  rejoicing  when  they  were  come 
safely  unto  the  Persian  camp. 

But  alas!  when  Afrasiab  learned  that  Rustem  had  stolen 
into  his  camp  and  liberated  the  prisoners,  he  fairly  writhed 
with  anger  and  mortification.  And  at  once  he  sent  forth 
Barzu  to  challenge  Rustem  to  single  combat. 

So  the  Champion  of  the  World  went  forth,  and  behold, 
Barzu  was  his  equal  in  size,  and  apparently  also  in  strength 
and  skill.  For  though  they  fought  long,  first  with  one 
weapon,  then  with  another,  Rustem  prevailed  not.  Then 
they  tried  wrestling,  and  terrible  were  the  wrenches  and 
grasps  they  gave  and  received,  but  Barzu,  noting  that  this 
also  was  vain,  once  more  grasped  his  mace,  and,  raising  it 
high,  struck  Rustem  such  a  blow  upon  the  head  that  the 
Champion  thought  a  whole  mountain  had  fallen  upon 
him.  But,  though  one  arm  was  completely  disabled,  no 
sign  thereof  did  Rustem  give — to  the  great  amazement 
of  Barzu,  who  cried: 

"Truly,  thou  art  a  most  surprising  warrior,  and  seem- 
ingly invulnerable.  Now  if  I  had  struck  such  a  blow  upon 
a  mountain,  quickly  would  it  have  been  broken  into  a 


LATER  FEATS  OF  RUSTEM  313 

thousand  fragments;  and  yet  upon  thee  it  seemeth  no 
more  than  the  prick  of  a  flea." 

Yea,  and  he  said  unto  himself,  shaking  his  head 
thoughtfully: 

"Heaven  forbid  that  I  should  ever  receive  so  bewilder- 
ing a  blow  upon  my  own  head!" 

But  Rustem,  having  successfully  concealed  the  anguish 
of  his  wound,  now  artfully  suggested  that,  as  it  was  late, 
perhaps  it  would  be  better  to  finish  the  combat  on  the  fol- 
lowing day,  to  which  Barzu  readily  agreed,  as  he,  too, 
was  exhausted  by  the  long  struggle.  So  the  two  champions 
retired,  and  Rustem,  showing  his  lacerated  arm  unto  the 
Shah,  said: 

"O  Glorious  One!  Behold,  I  have  escaped  from  yon 
raging  dragon,  but  I  bring  back  with  me  the  marks  of  his 
teeth.  And  now,  alas!  who  will  finish  the  struggle  on  the 
morrow?" 

But  behold!  though  Rustem  spent  a  night  of  pain  and 
grief,  morning  brought  unto  him  glad  news,  for  Feramurz, 
his  glorious  son,  arrived  unexpectedly  in  camp. 

So,  a  few  hours  later,  when  both  armies  were  drawn  up, 
and  Barzu,  like  a  mad  elephant,  rode  forward  to  resume 
the  combat,  he  was  met,  apparently,  by  his  old  antagonist. 
For  lo!  Rustem  had  attired  Feramurz  in  his  own  armor, 
supplied  him  with  his  own  weapons,  and  mounted  him 
upon  Rakush,  telling  him  to  represent  himself  unto  Barzu 
as  the  warrior  who  had  engaged  him  the  day  before. 

Now  as  Feramurz  rode  forward  he  shot  an  arrow  at 
Barzu,  crying: 

"O  Youthful  Giant!  Behold  thine  adversary  come 
forth  once  more  to  try  thy  strength.  Advance,  therefore, 
and  beware!" 


314  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

But  Barzu,  amazed  at  such  lightness  of  spirit,  cried: 

"O  Mighty  One!  Why  this  hilarity? '  Art  thou,  then,  so 
reckless  of  thy  life?" 

And  Feramurz,  laughing,  said: 

"Knowest  thou  not,  O  Sober  One,  that  the  field  of  fight 
is,  unto  the  warrior,  the  mansion  of  pleasure  ?  Wherefore, 
then,  should  I  not  be  gay?" 

But  Barzu,  who  began  to  suspect  that  he  had  to  do 
with  a  new  antagonist,  said  tauntingly: 

"O  Light  O'  Heart!  Is  the  champion  whom  I  encoun- 
tered yesterday  perhaps  wounded  or  dead,  that  thou  hast 
attired  thyself  in  his  mail  and  mounted  his  charger?" 

Now  to  this  challenge  Feramurz  replied  still  gayly: 

"Perhaps  thou  hast  lost  thy  wits,  O  Giant,  since  thou 
knowest  not  thy  adversary.  Now  almost  I  extinguished 
thee  yesterday,  and  to-day  I  mean  to  finish  thee;  so  once 
more  I  say  unto  thee,  beware!" 

Thus  saying,  Feramurz  rushed  valiantly  upon  his  ad- 
versary, struck  him  blow  upon  blow  with  his  battle-axe, 
and  drawing  his  noose  from  the  saddle-strap,  with  the 
quickness  of  lightning  he  secured  his  prize.  Then  might 
he  speedily  have  put  an  end  to  Barzu' s  existence,  but  he 
preferred  taking  him  alive  to  exhibit  unto  the  army. 

But  not  without  a  struggle  was  Feramurz  to  carry  off 
his  prize,  for  Afrasiab,  seeing  the  perilous  condition  of  his 
Champion,  quickly  pressed  forward  his  whole  army  to  the 
rescue.  But  KaiKhosrau  and  Rustem,  equally  on  the  alert, 
quickly  supported  Feramurz — Rustem  throwing  another 
noose  around  the  already  captured  Barzu,  to  prevent  the 
possibility  of  his  escape.  And  now,  so  great  was  the  grief 
of  Afrasiab  for  the  loss  of  Ba'rzu,  that  he  immediately  re- 
treated across  the  Jihun,  quitting  Persia  with  all  his  troops. 


LATER  FEATS  OF  RUSTEM          .  315 

As  for  Barzu,  beholding  in  the  youthful  giant  great  pos- 
sibilities, Rustem  begged  KaiKhossau  that  his  life  might 
be  spared,  and  carried  him  back  with  him  unto  Seistan. 
Yea,  and  here  he  assisted  Rustem  greatly  in  his  next  ad- 
venture, which  was  with  Susen,  a  wicked  sorceress,  as  you 
shall  hear. 

For  behold!  shortly  after  his  return  unto  Seistan,  Rus- 
tem invited  unto  his  courts  a  large  number  of  the  most 
celebrated  heroes  of  the  kingdom,  since  he  proposed  to  give 
a  most  magnificent  banquet.  But  alas  that  it  must  be 
recorded!  before  the  feast  had  even  begun,  some  of  the 
heroes  fell  out — as  even  heroes  will — and  dire  were  the 
consequences. 

For  you  must  know  that  among  the  honored  guests  were 
Tus  and  Gudarz,  who  were  ever  hostile  unto  each  other, 
and,  sad  to  relate,  shortly  after  their  arrival  at  Seistan,  as 
usual,  a  dispute  took  place  between  them — this  time  it 
being  a  question  of  precedence.  As  a  consequence,  there- 
fore, Tus,  who  ever  boasted  of  his  ancestry,  reviled  Gu- 
darz in  his  anger,  saying  unto  the  old  warrior: 

"  Old  Man!  How  canst  thou  put  thyself  upon  a  footing 
with  me?  For  verily  I  am  the  son  of  Nuder,  and  the 
grandson  of  Feridoun,  whilst  thou  art  but  the  son  of 
Kavah  the  smith." 

Now  this  naturally  angered  Gudarz,  who  replied  unto 
Tus: 

"Vain  Boaster,  though  thy  ancestors  were  wise  and 
mighty,  greatly  I  fear  that  their  robe  of  merit  reacheth  not 
unto  thee.  As  for  the  ancestry  of  Gudarz,  hear  me  this 
once,  then  put  a  chain  upon  the  door  of  thy  lips  forever. 
For  think  you  I  need  blush  to  be  the  kinsman  of  the  glori- 
ous Kavah?  Verily,  nay;  rather,  I  glory  in  him.  For 


316  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

was  he  not  the  man  who,  when  the  world  could  boast  of 
little  valor,  tore  wrathfully  up  the  infamous  name-roll  of 
Zohak,  giving  unto  the  Persians  freedom  from  the  fangs 
of  the  devouring  serpents  ?  Was  it  not  he,  I  say,  who  raised 
the  first  banner,  proclaiming  aloud  freedom  for  Iran? 
Verily  unto  Kavah  the  empire  oweth  its  greatest  blessing, 
so  well  may  Gudarz  glory  to  be  his  son!" 

Unto  this,  however,  Tus,  beside  himself  with  wrath, 
rejoined: 

"Old  Man,  thine  arrow  may  pierce  an  anvil,  but  mine 
can  pierce  the  heart  of  the  Kaf  mountain!" 

But  Gudarz,  smiling,  softly  said: 

"Verily,  if  words  were  deeds,  then  would  the  Mighty 
Tus  rival  his  glorious  ancestors!" 

And  alas!  this  so  aroused  the  anger  of  Tus,  that  swiftly 
he  drew  forth  his  dagger  to  punish  the  offender.  But 
Rehham  interfered  in  behalf  of  Gudarz,  which  so  in- 
creased  the  rage  of  Tus  that  in  high  dudgeon  the  Hero  rej 
tired  from  the  company  and  set  out  upon  his  return  unto 
Iran. 

Now  Rustem  was  not  present  when  the  dispute  took 
place,  but  when  he  heard  of  it  he  was  displeased  saying 
that  Gudarz  was  a  relation  of  the  family,  and  Tus  his 
guest,  and  therefore  wrong  had  been  done,  since  a  guest 
ought  always  to  be  honored.  And  he  said: 

"Verily  a  guest  should  be  held  as  sacred  as  a  king,  and 
it  is  ever  the  custom  of  heroes  to  treat  a  guest  as  the  king 
of  the  feast." 

And  having  thus  spoken,  Rustem  requested  Gudarz  to 
go  after  Tus,  and  by  fair  words  and  proper  excuses  bring 
him  back  unto  the  festal  board.  So  Gudarz  departed,  but 
scarcely  was  he  gone  when  Gew  rose  up  and  said : 


LATER  FEATS  OF  RUSTEM  317 

"Tus,  in  his  anger  is  little  better  than  a  madman,  and 
my  father  also  hath  a  hasty  temper  where  he  is  concerned. 
I  should  like,  therefore,  O  Mighty  One,  to  follow  after 
them  to  prevent  further  disagreement." 

So,  consent  being  given  by  Rustem,  behold,  Gew  went 
forth  taking  with  him  Byzun,  who  was  also  anxious  to  go. 
But  when  the  three  heroes  had  departed,  lo,  Rustem  be- 
came apprehensive,  so  he  sent  Feramurz  forth  also  to  pre- 
serve the  peace.  Then  finally  Zal,  fearing  that  Tus  might 
not  be  easily  prevailed  upon  to  return,  either  by  Gudarz, 
Gew,  Byzun,  or  Feramurz,  resolved  to  go  forth  himself  to 
soothe  the  temper  so  unwisely  ruffled  at  the  banquet. 

Now  it  happened  that  Tus  was  obliged,  on  his  return 
journey,  to  pass  by  the  abode  of  Susen  the  sorceress.  And 
alas!  though  he  suspected  it  not,  this  was  a  trap  which 
Afrasiab  had  set  to  ensnare  the  heroes  of  Iran — particu- 
larly Rustem,  whom  the  King  greatly  desired  to  secure, 
and  whom  the  sorceress  had  promised  to  destroy,  together 
with  his  whole  family.  For  she  said  unto  the  King: 

"Fighting  disappointment  brings, 
Sword  and  mace  are  useless  things; 
If  thou  wouldst  a  conqueror  be, 
Monarch!  put  thy  trust  in  me; 
Soon  the  mighty  chief  shall  bleed, — 
Spells  and  charms  will  do  the  deed!" 

So,  the  snare  being  set,  lo,  as  Tus  approached  this  en- 
chanted abode,  he  beheld  cooks  and  confectioners  on  all 
sides,  preparing  many  and  rare  dishes  of  food,  together 
with  every  species  of  sweetmeat.  And  alas!  disappointed 
of  Rustem's  banquet,  also  hungry  and  curious,  Tus  dis- 
mounted and,  leaving  his  horse  with  an  attendant,  entered 


318  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

the  great  dining-hall,  where  he  was  met  by  the  charming 
sorceress  herself,  who,  escorting  him  unto  a  table  bounte- 
ously supplied  with  charmed  viands,  and  goblets  of  rich 
wine,  spake  unto  him  gay  words,  waiting  upon  him  with 
her  own  fair  hands. 

But  behold!  after  Tus  had  eaten  a  few  mouthfuls,  he 
began  to  feel  very  strange,  and  presently,  his  armor  burst- 
ing asunder,  he  gazed  in  horror  at  himself,  for  he  perceived 
sharp  quills  sticking  out  from  his  body  in  all  directions, 
and  happening  to  glance  in  a  mirror,  he  beheld,  not  Tus, 
the  descendant  of  Kings,  but  a  great,  ugly  wild  boar. 
And  lo !  as  he  would  have  cried  out  in  his  dismay,  he  could 
do  naught  but  grunt.  Then  the  enchantress,  laughing 
wickedly,  drove  him  out  into  a  yard,  from  which  there  was 
no  escape,  and  prepared  for  her  next  victim. 

And  as  it  happened  unto  Tus,  so  chanced  it  with  all  the 
heroes  sent  after  him,  save  only  White-haired  Zal — him 
could  they  not  entice,  for  he  would  neither  enter  the  en- 
chanted dwelling,  nor  taste  of  the  charmed  food  and  wine. 
For  lo!  Serosch  the  Blessed  had  whispered  into  his  ear 
that  the  howling  wild  boars  in  the  yard  were  the  heroes 
who  had  preceded  him. 

And  when  Zal  realized  what  had  befallen,  quickly  he 
sent  word  unto  Rustem.  Then,  single-handed,  he  attacked 
the  sorceress,  who,  perceiving  that  she  was  discovered, 
quickly  fled  into  the  strong-room  of  the  palace,  securely 
bolting  the  door.  But  tirelessly  Zal  battered  the  iron  until 
it  could  resist  his  blows  no  more,  whereupon,  out  rushed 
a  mighty  Deev,  who  at  once  began  a  furious  battle  with 
Zal,  in  which  he  was  nearly  victorious.  But  fortunately 
Feramurz,  who  had  been  delayed  by  the  way,  now  came 
up,  and  bidding  the  venerable  Zal  stand  aside,  he  took  his 


LATER  FEATS  OF  RUSTEM  319 

place,  fighting  fiercely  with  the  wicked  one  until  Rustem 
and  Barzu  arrived  upon  the  scene. 

And  behold!  learning  what  had  happened,  Rustem  was 
struck  with  horror,  for  seldom  was  an  enchanter  so  bold 
as  to  change  the  form  of  his  victim.  Leaving  giant  Barzu 
to  combat  with  the  Deev,  therefore,  in  spite  of  the  forces  of 
magic  that  opposed  him,  Rustem  succeeded  in  piercing 
unto  the  innermost  hiding-place  of  the  sorceress,  and 
though  again  and  again  she  changed  her  shape  in  her 
efforts  to  escape,  he  dragged  her  pitilessly  forth  into  the 
yard  where  the  heroes,  in  the  shape  of  wild  boars,  were 
making  the  night  hideous  with  their  howls  and  growls. 
And  here  the  Champion  said  unto  his  victim: 

"  O  Wicked  One,  quickly  restore  these  heroes  unto  their 
proper  shape,  else  shall  my  life-destroying  sword  quickly 
make  an  end  of  thee,  even  as  happened  unto  Akwan  Dew." 

Now  the  sorceress,  beholding  herself  in  the  power  of 
Deev-destroying  Rustem,  quickly  restored  the  heroes  unto 
themselves.  But  alas  for  Susen!  for  so  thankful  were 
her  victims  to  escape  from  her  power,  that  instinctively 
they  exclaimed  with  one  accord:  "Thank  God!"  at  which 
the  wicked  sorceress  at  once  vanished  from  both  sight  and 
hearing. 

Then  quickly  Rustem  returned  unto  Barzu,  but  he  also 
had  vanquished  his  foe,  though  the  Deev  had  evaded  the 
stroke  of  his  sword  many  times  by  vanishing.  So,  the 
wicked  ones  being  both  destroyed,  Rustem  set  fire  unto  the 
enchanted  mansion,  after  which  the  heroes  all  rode  back 
unto  Seistan,  where  they  feasted  gaily  for  a  whole  week. 

And  behold!  from  this  time  forth,  Tus  and  Gudarz  dis- 
puted no  more,  for  when  they  were  tempted,  they  quickly 
remembered  those  dreadful  hours  spent  as  snapping, 


320  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

snarling  beasts,  and  so  they  refrained,  realizing  that  such 
conduct  was  unworthy  of  heroes. 

After  this  it  came  to  pass  that  yet  again  Afrasiab  raised  a 
mighty  army  to  go  forth  in  vengeance  against  Iran,  and  be- 
hold !  this  time  their  progress  was  stayed  by  Gudarz  the  wise, 
who,  at  the  head  of  the  heroes  of  Iran,  disputed  their  ad- 
vance. Now  the  contest  waged  was  long  and  bitter,  and  the 
slaughter  fearful,  for  not  only  did  the  two  great  hosts  fight 
en  masse,  but  after  this,  lo,  the  flower  of  the  armies  met, 
one  couple  after  the  other,  in  single  combat.  And  alas!  in 
this  mighty  hero-contest,  brave  Piran-Wisa  met  a  glorious 
death. 

Then,  in  his  anger  and  despair  at  brave  Piran's  loss, 
Afrasiab  sent  forth  his  dearly-loved  son  Scheideh,  bid- 
ding him  challenge  the  Shah  of  Iran  to  combat  and  utterly 
to  lay  him  low.  But  behold!  Rustem  answered  the  sum- 
mons, and  soon  the  son  of  the  King  lay  lifeless  upon  the 
plain.  Yea,  and  now  the  Champion  routed  the  army  of 
Turan  utterly,  and  once  more  the  King  was  forced  to  be- 
come a  wanderer,  together  with  his  few  remaining  kins- 
folk. 

But  not  long  did  Afrasiab  escape  the  hands  of  justice. 
For  presently  Hum,  a  hermit  of  the  race  of  Feridoun, 
discovered  and  brought  the  wretched  monarch  unto  Kai- 
Khosrau,  who  caused  both  the  King  and  wicked  Gersiwaz 
to  perish  even  as  they  had  caused  death  to  come  upon 
Siawush  the  Prince. 

And  now  a  strange  thing  happened  in  Iran.  For  Kai- 
Khosrau,  fearing  to  become  uplifted  in  pride  like  unto 
Jemshed,  because  that  all  the  people  loved  and  praised 
him,  determined,  after  much  prayer  unto  Ormuzd,  to  quit 
the  world  before  this  evil  should  come  to  pass.  And  alas! 


LATER  FEATS  OF  RUSTEM  321 

though  Zal  and  Rustem  came  purposely  up  from  Seistan 
to  try  to  influence  KaiKhosrau  against  this  strange  deter- 
mination, yet  was  it  vain. 

So,  after  having  appointed  Lohurasp  as  his  successor, 
and  arranged  all  things  for  his  departure,  KaiKhosrau  got 
him  upon  his  horse  to  go  forth  unto  the  mountains.  And 
behold !  there  went  with  him  Zal  and  Rustem,  Gudarz  also, 
and  Gustahem  and  Gew,  Byzun  the  Valiant,  Friburz,  the 
son  of  Kaikous,  and  Tus  the  Pehliva. 

Now  these  heroes  followed  after  KaiKhosrau  from  the 
plain  even  unto  the  crest  of  the  mountains,  and  they  ceased 
not  from  mourning  that  which  was  done  of  their  King, 
striving  to  change  his  purpose.  But  KaiKhosrau,  at  peace 
with  himself  and  the  world,  gave  not  ear  unto  their  sup- 
plications. 

So  disconsolately  the  little  company  followed  the  King, 
who  was  guided  in  his  path  by  a  flock  of  wondrous  pheas- 
ants, until  they  were  come  unto  a  place  where  there 
seemed  to  be  no  farther  path.  Then  KaiKhosrau  said  unto 
the  heroes: 

"O  my  Pehliva,  here  must  we  part,  for  almost  have  I 
reached  the  fountain  shown  unto  me  by  the  Angel  of  God; 
and  from  here  on  I  enter  upon  a  path  where  there  is 
neither  herb  nor  water.  Return,  therefore,  upon  the  road 
that  ye  have  come,  for  lo!  my  hour  is  at  hand. 

So  Zal  and  Rustem  and  Gudarz  bade  KaiKhosrau  a  ten- 
der farewell,  and  with  tear-blinded  eyes  returned  unto  the 
plain,  lamenting  that  one  upon  whom  Heaven  had  bestowed 
a  mind  so  great,  and  a  heart  so  brave,  could  not  await  his 
hour  in  patience. 

But  alas!  Gew,  and  Tus,  arid  Byzun,  and  Friburz,  being 
unwilling  to  go  back,  followed  after  the  King  yet  another 


322  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

day.  But  so  rough  was  the  way  that  their  strength  was 
spent  when  evening  was  come.  However,  KaiKhosrau 
cheered  them,  and  soon  were  they  come  unto  the  Fountain 
of  Rest.  And  now,  once  again,  the  Shah  bade  that  his 
heroes  leave  him,  saying: 

"O  Valiant  Ones!  Return  quickly  upon  your  path  when 
I  am  gone,  neither  linger  in  this  place,  though  it  should 
rain  diamonds  and  pearls,  musk  and  amber.  For  pres- 
ently, out  of  the  mountains  a  mighty  storm  will  arise,  and 
there  will  come  a  fall  of  snow,  which  shall  prove  the 
winding-sheet  of  all  who  linger.  Farewell,  then,  O  my 
Brave  Heroes,  and  forget  not  to  give  heed  unto  my  words 
of  warning." 

Now,  so  speaking,  KaiKhosrau  stepped  into  the  foun- 
tain, immediately  vanishing. 

"And  not  a  trace  was  left  behind, 
And  not  a  dimple  on  the  wave; 
All  sought,  but  sought  in  vain,  to  find 
The  spot  which  proved  KaiKhosrau's  grave!" 

And  alas  for  his  brave  heroes!  For  in  their  grief  and 
weariness,  heedlessly  they  laid  themselves  down  by  the 
fountain  to  sleep,  and  presently,  even  as  predicted  by  the 
vanished  King,  a  mighty  wind  arose,  and  the  snow  fell 
thick  and  soft,  awakening  not  the  tired  ones  who  slum- 
bered so  fatally  beside  the  Pool  of  Rest.  Yea,  and  their 
sleep  was  long,  for  when,  many  days  after,  Zal  and  Rustem 
went  forth  to  seek  the  missing  ones,  behold,  they  found 
them  slumbering  still,  covered  o'er  by  soft,  white  blankets 
of  snow.  But  alas!  so  complete  was  the  passing  of  Kai- 
Khosrau that  his  body  they  found  not,  though  they  dragged 
the  fatal  fountain  in  their  search.  Sorrowfully,  however, 


LATER  FEATS  OF  RUSTEM  323 

they  bare  the  snow-covered  heroes  back  unto  the  plain, 
amidst  the  wailing  of  the  whole  army.  And  well  might 
they  weep,  for  thus  perished  the  flower  of  the  heroes  of 
Iran,  and  thus  also  ended  the  old  regime,  so  glorious  in  its 
record  of  brave  deeds. 


ISFENDIYAR'S  SEVEN  LABORS,  OR 
HEFTKHAN 

"Rustem  had  seven  great  labors,  wondrous  power 
Nerved  his  strong  arm  in  danger's  needful  hour; 
And  now  Firdusi's  legend  strains  declare 
The  seven  great  labors  of  Isfendiyar." 

NOW  of  all  the  heroes  of  Persia,  none  so  nearly  ri- 
valled Rustem  as  the  brave  Isfendiyar,  son  of 
Gushtasp  the  Shah.  Young,  valiant,  and  pos- 
sessed of  great  ability  and  promise,  his  father  gave  unto 
him  the  command  of  his  armies,  promising  unto  him  the 
throne  of  Iran,  if  he  should  conquer  Arjasp  the  demon 
king,  who  threatened  to  bring  the  Persians  beneath  his 
yoke.  Now  thus  it  is  that  we  hear  of  Isfendiyar  first. 
And  short  work,  indeed,  did  he  make  of  his  campaign  with 
the  Deevs,  for  though  so  fierce  was  the  fight  that  the  heroes 
closed  not  their  eyes  in  slumber,  neither  ceased  from  con- 
flict for  the  space  of  twice  seven  days,  yet  in  the  end  did 
the  valor  and  might  of  Isfendiyar  prevail,  and  Arjasp  was 
forced  to  flee  before  the  face  of  the  valorous  youth  and  his 
brave  warriors. 

So,  having  won  this  glorious  victory,  joyously  Isfendiyar 
returned  unto  his  father,  craving  his  blessing.  But  Gush- 
tasp said: 

"O  my  brave  son,  truly  thy  deeds  have  been  glorious, 
but  before  thou  mountest  the  throne  of  thy  father  I  must 
send  thee  forth  yet  again,  that  thou  mayest  win  the  whole 
world  unto  Zerdusht,  the  Great  Prophet,  for  so  will  thy 
reign  be  blessed." 

324 


ISFENDIYAR'S   SEVEN  LABORS          325 

So  again  Isfendiyar  went  forth  as  warrior-crusader,  and 
lo!  he  travelled  not  only  through  all  the  provinces  of  Per- 
sia, but  even  unto  foreign  lands.  And,  so  successful  was 
he  that— 

"Where'er  he  went  he  was  received 
With  welcome,  all  the  world  believed, 
And  all  with  grateful  feelings  took 
The  Holy  Zendavesta-book, 
Proud  their  new  worship  to  declare, 
The  worship  of  Isfendiyar." 

And  now,  having  won  the  world  unto  Zerdusht,  the 
young  crusader  again  returned  unto  his  father.  But  alas! 
one  who  hated  Isfendiyar  because  of  his  valor  and  tri- 
umphs had  succeeded  in  poisoning  the  mind  of  Gushtasp 
against  his  son,  telling  him  that  Isfendiyar,  being  ambitious, 
was  plotting  the  overthrow  of  his  father.  So  it  came  to 
pass  that  when  the  Hero  presented  himself  before  his  sire, 
Gushtasp  greeted  him  not,  but,  turning  unto  his  courtiers, 
said: 

"O  Nobles  of  Iran!  What  think  you  should  be  done 
with  that  son  who  in  the  lifetime  of  his  father  usurps  his 
authority  and  meditates  his  death?" 

Then  with  one  accord  the  nobles  answered,  saying:  "O 
Lord  of  the  World, 

"Such  a  son  should  either  be 
Broken  on  the  felon-tree, 
Or  in  prison  bound  with  chains, 
Whilst  his  wicked  life  remains, 
Else  thyself,  thy  kingdom,  all 
Will  be  ruined  by  his  thrall." 

Alas!  when  Gushtasp  heard  the  words  of  his  nobles, 
quickly  he  turned  him  unto  his  guards,  saying: 


326  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

"Verily,  Isfendiyar  is  such  a  son.  Bind  him,  therefore, 
and  let  him  be  buried  from  my  sight  in  the  deepest  dungeon 
of  the  palace." 

So,  in  spite  of  the  remonstrances  and  pleadings  of  many 
who  loved  and  grieved  for  the  injustice  done  unto  their 
Prince,  behold,  he  was  imprisoned  in  a  dreary  dungeon, 
where  chains  of  weight  were  hung  upon  him.  Yea,  and 
thus  was  he  shut  away  from  the  glad  sunshine  of  the  world 
for  many  long  years.  And  alas!  the  iron  entered  into  his 
soul  as  well  as  into  his  body,  for  he  remembered  that, 
though  innocent  himself,  his  father  had  done  unto  Lohu- 
rasp,  his  sire,  even  as  he  had  accused  him;  yet  was  he  free 
and  exalted. 

But  retribution  was  at  hand.  For,  when  Arjasp,  the 
demon  king,  learned  that  Isfendiyar  was  fettered,  and  that 
Gushtasp  was  given  over  unto  pleasure,  behold,  he  gath- 
ered together  a  great  army,  and  in  a  moment  when  he 
knew  the  kingdom  to  be  unguarded,  and  unprepared  for 
resistance,  suddenly  he  fell  upon  Iran's  capital,  putting  to 
death  Lohurasp,  the  aged  Shah,  and  taking  captive  the  two 
fair  daughters  of  Gushtasp.  Yea,  and  he  also  threw  fire 
into  the  temple  of  Zerdusht,  causing  much  destruction  and 
loss  of  life. 

Now  at  this  time  Gushtasp  was  at  Seistan,  enjoying  a 
hunting  trip  with  Rustem;  and  thither  hastened  a  messen- 
ger to  inform  the  Shah  of  the  great  disaster  that  had  be- 
fallen. So  quickly  Gushtasp  called  together  his  army,  put- 
ting himself  at  its  head,  but  in  the  first  engagement  Arjasp 
routed  him  utterly.  Overwhelmed  with  dismay,  therefore, 
the  Shah  quickly  called  together  his  counsellors,  for  he 
knew  not  what  to  do  in  the  sore  straits  so  suddenly  come 
upon  him.  But  neither  did  his  nobles,  and  for  a  time  their 


ISFENDIYAR'S  SEVEN  LABORS  327 

hearts  were  filled  with  despair.  Then  one,  wise  above  the 
others,  said: 

"  O  King  of  Kings!  Verily,  Isfendiyar  alone  can  deliver 
Iran  from  the  woe  which  threateneth.  I  counsel  thee, 
therefore,  release  him,  for  he  alone  can  conquer  this 
Demon  King." 

Then  Gushtasp,  remembering  how  the  Prince  had  con- 
quered Arjasp  before,  took  heart,  saying: 

"Verily,  if  Isfendiyar  shall  succeed  in  delivering  us  from 
this  foe,  then  I  call  ye  all  to  witness  that  my  oath  is  given 
to  abandon  unto  him  the  throne  and  crown." 

So  right  speedily  the  Shah  sent  messengers  unto  Isfendi- 
yar, that  they  should  unbind  his  chains,  and  with  them  he 
sent  a  letter,  begging  forgiveness  for  his  cruelty,  and  prom- 
ising that  his  enemies  should  be  put  to  death  in  his  pres- 
ence; yea,  and  that  surely  the  crown  should  be  his  when 
he  again  overcame  Arjasp. 

But  too  long  had  Isfendiyar  languished  in  prison  to  be 
easily  moved  by  his  father's  tardy,  though  opportune, 
repentance.  So  he  said: 

"Wherefore  should  I  weary  myself  in  my  father's  cause? 
Verily,  I  might  have  rotted  in  my  prison,  forgotten  of  my 
sire,  had  not  his  enemies  forced  him  to  remember  that 
perchance  the  valiant  Isfendiyar  yet  lived." 

Then  the  nobles,  seeing  that  appeal  on  his  father's 
account  was  useless,  said  unto  him: 

"Verily,  O  Prince,  thy  father  hath  treated  thee  ill,  but 
perhaps  thou  knowest  not  that  thy  two  fair  sisters  are  in 
bonds  unto  Arjasp  ?  Surely  it  behooveth  thee  to  deliver 
them  from  their  living  death!" 

Now  when  Isfendiyar  heard  this  dire  news,  at  once 
he  sprang  to  his  feet,  commanding  that  his  chains  be 


328  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

struck  from  off  his  limbs,  and  as  the  men  were  slow,  be- 
hold, he  stretched  himself  mightily,  thus  bursting  his 
chains  so  that  they  fell  clanking  at  his  feet.  Then  he  made 
haste  to  go  before  his  father,  for  he  thirsted  to  be  revenged 
for  the  indignity  done  unto  his  sisters. 

So,  peace  being  made  between  Isfendiyar  and  hie  sire, 
soon  there  rallied  about  the  Prince  a  great  multitude  that 
tarried  not,  but  went  forth  like  a  mighty  whirlwind.  And 
behold !  so  great  was  their  force  and  fury  that  naught  could 
stand  before  them;  nay,  not  even  the  great  Arjasp,  who 
fled  before  the  face  of  Isfendiyar  in  terror  of  his  life.  For 
never  had  he  seen  such  fury  in  battle,  though  he  had  fought 
with  many  heroes. 

And  behold!  the  enemy  being  once  more  vanquished, 
Isfendiyar  returned  unto  his  father,  craving  the  fulfilment 
of  his  vow.  But  Gushtasp,  when  he  beheld  himself  freed 
from  danger,  repented  him  of  his  promise,  for  he  had  no 
desire  to  give  the  reins  of  government  unto  another.  There- 
fore he  spake  angrily  unto  Isfendiyar,  saying: 

"Verily,  my  son,  I  marvel  that  while  thy  sisters  languish 
in  the  bondage  of  Arjasp  thou  canst  consider  thyself  vic- 
torious! Now  it  hath  been  revealed  unto  me  that  they  are 
hidden  in  Arj asp's  brazen  fortress,  and  that  the  great  chief 
and  all  his  demon  warriors  are  gone  in  behind  its  walls. 
I  say  unto  thee,  therefore,  storm  this  terrible  fortress  and 
deliver  thy  sisters  who  pine.  Then,  when  thou  returnest 
them  safe  unto  my  arms,  by  Ormuzd  the  Blessed,  I  swear 
that  thy  name  shall  be  exalted  as  Shah  throughout  the  land. 

"'Then  go!'   the  smiling  monarch  said, 
Invoking  blessings  on  his  head, 
'And  may  kind  Heaven  thy  refuge  be, 
Leading  thee  on  to  victory.' " 


ISFENDIYAR'S  SEVEN  LABORS          329 

Now  as  Isfendiyar  knew  not  the  way  unto  the  retreat  of 
AT j  asp,  behold,  he  called  before  him  Karugsar,  a  demon 
champion  whom  he  had  conquered  and  still  held  captive, 
saying  unto  him: 

"O  Mighty  One,  reveal  unto  me,  I  pray  thee,  the  road 
unto  the  Brazen  Fortress,  for  behold!  we  go  forth  pres- 
ently to  conquer  the  kingdom  of  Arjasp,  and  to  restore  my 
fair  sisters  unto  liberty." 

Then  Karugsar,  surprised  that  any  hero  should  think  of 
entering  upon  so  hazardous  an  enterprise,  replied  unto 
Isfendiyar : 

"O  Hero  of  Heroes!  Behold,  there  are  three  different 
routes  which  lead  unto  the  fortress  of  brass.  One  there  is 
that  occupieth  three  months,  the  way  leading  through 
a  beautiful  country,  adorned  with  cities  and  gardens  and 
pastures;  a  second,  less  attractive,  but  perfectly  safe,  em- 
ploying only  two  months;  and  a  third,  by  which  the  jour- 
ney may  be  accomplished  in  seven  days — called  on  this 
account  the  Heft-Khan,  or  seven  stages.  But,  mark  you, 
my  Lord!  at  every  stage  upon  this  route  some  monster 
or  terrible  difficulty  must  be  overcome.  Yea;  and  so 
truly  fearful  is  it  that  no  monarch,  even  supported 
by  a  large  army,  hath  ever  yet  ventured  to  proceed  by 
this  route,  for  assuredly  any  one  attempting  it  would  be 
lost." 

Alas!  at  this  description  of  the  terrors  of  the  Heft-Khan, 
Isfendiyar  became  thoughtful,  but  he  said : 

"Verily,  no  man  can  die  before  his  time,  and  I  have 
heard  it  said  that  a  man  of  valor  should  ever  choose  the 
shortest' route;  therefore,  we  go  by  way  of  the  Heft- 
Khan." 

So  spake  brave  Isfendiyar  and  having  selected  a  force  of 


330  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

twelve  thousand  chosen  horsemen,  together  with  an 
abundance  of  treasure,  behold,  he  set  forth  upon  the  peril- 
ous way. 

Now  the  first  day  passed  without  danger,  and  almost 
Isfendiyar  thought  that  his  guide  had  deceived  him  as  to  the 
perils  of  the  way.  But  as  evening  fell,  behold,  the  retinue 
came  unto  a  forest  and  a  murmuring  stream,  when  sud- 
denly two  enormous  wolves  appeared  and  charged  the  le- 
gions of  Isfendiyar.  But  soon  they  were  laid  low,  for,  seeing 
them  advance,  the  whole  host  poured  forth  upon  them 
showers  of  arrows  from  their  bows.  And  while  Isfendiyar 
attacked  one  of  them,  Bashutan,  his  brother,  fell  upon  the 
other,  so  that,  what  with  the  arrows  and  the  vigorous 
attack  of  the  heroes,  in  a  few  seconds  the  two  great  mon- 
sters lay  lifeless  in  the  dust. 

So,  the  first  stage  of  the  journey  successfully  passed, 
blithely  Isfendiyar  entered  upon  the  second.  But  again 
the  party  travelled  peacefully  all  day,  their  progress  re- 
maining undisputed  until  toward  sunset,  when  a  lion  and 
a  lioness  stalked  boldly  forth,  snarling  and  angry.  Now 
Bashutan  would  have  divided  the  labor,  even  as  with  the 
wolves,  but  Isfendiyar,  seeing  how  ferocious  were  the 
beasts,  preferred  to  attack  them  alone. 

Hesitating  not,  therefore,  the  hero  first  sallied  forth 
against  the  lion,  and  so  watchful  and  dexterous  was  he, 
that  with  one  mighty  stroke  he  put  an  end  to  his  life.  And 
this  done,  behold,  he  approached  the  lioness,  who  pounced 
upon  him  with  great  fury  because  of  her  mate,  and  almost 
you  would  have  said  that  Isfendiyar's  hour  was  come. 
But  though  sore  pressed,  the  hero  lost  not  his  coolness, 
holding  his  own  against  the  furious  beast  until  an  opening 
was  given  him,  when,  rapidly  wielding  his  sword,  in  a  mo- 


ISFENDIYAR'S  SEVEN  LABORS          331 

ment  the  head  of  the  great  lioness  went  bounding  o'er  the 
plain  like  a  ball  shot  from  a  racket,  and  her  life  of  hunting 
was  ended,  even  as  that  of  her  mate. 

But  alas!  though  two  stages  of  the  great  Heft-Khan 
were  thus  successfully  passed,  Karugsar  informed  Isfen- 
diyar  that  upon  the  following  day  he  would  be  called  upon 
to  encounter  a  monstrous  dragon,  whose  roar  made  the  very 
mountains  tremble,  and  whose  hideous  jaws  shot  forth 
poisonous  foam.  So,  thus  warned,  after  some  thinking, 
Isfendiyar  ordered  to  be  constructed  a  curious  apparatus 
on  wheels.  Now  the  hero's  invention  was  something  like 
a  carriage,  unto  which  were  fastened  a  large  quantity 
of  pointed  instruments  sharp  as  razors.  And  to  this  ma- 
chine of  death  horses  were  fastened  to  drag  it  on  the 
road. 

So  the  next  day  the  retinue  again  set  forth,  and  after 
they  had  gone  some  distance  Karugsar  suddenly  exclaimed : 

"Surely  I  smell  the  stench  of  the  dragon,  for  nothing 
else  could  so  pollute  the  air!" 

Now  hearing  this,  Isfendiyar  dismounted  hastily  from 
his  charger,  ascended  into  the  new  machine,  and,  shutting 
fast  the  doors,  took  his  seat  and  drove  off.  But  alas!  when 
Bashutan  and  all  the  warriors  saw  the  intention  of  the  hero, 
lo,  they  began  to  lament  and  weep,  begging  him  to  come 
out  of  the  machine,  and  not  to  rush  upon  certain  death. 
But  Isfendiyar  bade  them  be  of  good  cheer,  and,  taking  up 
the  reins,  he  drove  forward  with  great  velocity  until  he  was 
come  in  the  vicinity  of  the  awful  beast.  Then  alas! 

"The  dragon  from  a  distance  heard 

The  rumbling  of  the  wain, 
And  sniffing  every  breeze  that  stirred 
Across  the  neighboring  plain, 


332  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Smelt  something  human  in  his  power, 
A  welcome  scent  to  him; 

For  he  was  eager  to  devour 
Hot,  reeking  blood  or  limb. 

And  darkness  now  is  spread  around, 
No  pathway  can  be  traced; 

The  fiery  horses  plunge  and  bound 
Amid  the  dismal  waste. 

And  now  the  dragon  stretches  far 
His  cavern  throat,  and  soon 

Licks  in  the  horses  and  the  car, 
And  tries  to  gulp  them  down. 

But  sword  and  javelin,  sharp  and  keen, 
Wound  deep  each  sinewy  jaw; 

Midway  remains  the  huge  machine, 
And  chokes  the  monster's  maw. 

In  agony  he  breathes,  a  dire 
Convulsion  fires  his  blood, 

And  struggling,  ready  to  expire, 
Ejects  a  poison-flood! 

And  then  disgorges  wain  and  steed, 
And  swords  and  javelins  bright; 

Then,  as  the  dreadful  dragon  bleeds, 
Up  starts  the  warrior-knight, 

And  from  his  place  of  ambush  leaps, 
And  brandishing  his  blade, 

The  weapon  in  the  brain  he  steeps, 
And  splits  the  monster's  head. 

But  the  foul  venom  issuing  thence, 
Is  so  o'erpowering  found, 

Isfendiyar,  deprived  of  sense, 
Falls  staggering  to  the  ground!" 


ISFENDIYAR'S  SEVEN  LABORS          333 

Howbeit,  though  o'ercome  by  the  horrible  stench,  Isfen- 
diyar  was  soon  upon  his  feet  asking  Karugsar  as  to  his 
next  adventure,  and  being  informed  that  upon  the  following 
day  he  would  be  called  upon  to  combat  the  powers  of 
magic,  he  was  no  whit  dismayed.  Nay;  on  the  contrary, 
he  set  out  upon  the  fourth  stage  of  the  Heft-Khan  with 
increased  confidence,  feeling  himself  under  the  protection 
of  the  Almighty. 

And  behold!  upon  this  day  his  trial  was  delayed  not 
long,  for  in  the  early  morning,  as  the  party  refreshed  them- 
selves in  a  pleasant  meadow,  a  beautiful  enchantress  ap- 
peared, representing  herself  as  a  king's  daughter  in  great 
distress  on  account  of  a  hideous  ghoul  who  had  stolen  her 
from  her  home  and  now  held  her  in  bondage.  Now  Isfen- 
diyar  feigned  sympathy,  but  when  the  wicked  one  drew 
near,  before  she  could  weave  her  spells  about  him,  lo,  the 
hero  threw  his  cord,  quickly  snaring  her  in  its  meshes. 
Nor  was  she  permitted  to  escape,  although  in  her  extrem- 
ity the  fair  one  successively  assumed  the  shape  of  a  cat, 
a  wolf,  and  a  decrepit  old  man,  for,  vexed  at  her  efforts  to 
cheat  him,  the  Hero  soon  made  an  end  of  her  with  his 
sword. 

But  behold!  no  sooner  had  this  happened  than  a  thick, 
dark  cloud  of  vapor  arose,  and  when  it  subsided,  lo,  there 
burst  forth  the  black  apparition  of  a  demon  with  flames 
issuing  from  his  mouth.  Now  the  ghoul  was  indeed  fright- 
ful, but,  nevertheless,  Isfendiyar  rushed  bravely  forward, 
sword  in  hand,  and,  though  the  flames  burnt  his  cloth 
armor  and  dress,  finally,  after  a  terrible  fight,  he  succeeded 
in  cutting  off  the  threatening  monster's  head.  Then  the 
hero  said  unto  Karugsar: 

"Lo!  by  the  favor  of  Heaven,  both  enchantress  and 


334  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

ghoul  are  exterminated,  as  well  as  the  wolves,  the  lions,  and 
the  dragon.  Now  what  awaiteth  me  next?" 

Then  Karugsar,  who  had  been  truly  amazed  at  the 
valor  of  Isfendiyar,  said: 

"  O  Matchless  One,  truly  thy  success  hath  been  marvel- 
lous, but  to-morrow  thou  wilt  be  subjected  to  a  test  never 
before  experienced  by  mortal  man,  for  thy  antagonist  will 
be  a  mighty  Simurgh.  Now  if  thou  overcomest  this  giant 
bird,  fierce  because  of  her  young,  thou  wilt  have  performed 
a  feat  not  dreamed  of  by  even  Rustem  the  Mighty,  and  thy 
name  will  go  ringing  down  the  ages  as  the  hero  who  con- 
quered a  Simurgh.  But  alas!  much  I  fear  that  the  fifth 
stage  of  the  Heft-Khan  will  be  thy  last." 

But,  undismayed,  Isfendiyar  continued  his  journey, 
coming  presently  unto  the  mountain  where  the  Simurgh 
had  builded  her  nest.  And  here  a  curious  thing  hap- 
pened, for  the  giant  bird,  beholding  with  surprise  an  im- 
mense vehicle  drawn  by  two  horses  approach  at  a  furious 
rate,  immediately  descended  from  the  mountain,  and  en- 
deavored to  take  up  the  whole  apparatus  in  her  claws  to 
carry  it  unto  her  nest.  But  alas!  the  swords  and  javelins 
cruelly  lacerated  both  claws  and  beak,  so  that  after  a  time 
the  great  bird  became  extremely  weakened  by  the  loss  of 
blood.  Then  Isfendiyar,  seizing  this  favorable  moment, 
sprang  out  of  the  carriage,  and  with  his  sword  cleft  the 
mighty  bird  in  twain.  Now  never  had  the  Hero  beheld  a 
Simurgh,  and  much  he  marvelled  at  the  colossal  size  and 
wondrous  beauty  of  the  giant  Bird  of  God. 

Tarrying  not,  however,  the  retinue  moved  rapidly  for- 
ward, for  Karugsar  informed  them  that  upon  the  sixth 
stage  their  fight  would  be  with  the  elements,  and  they 
hoped  to  reach,  by  hard  travel,  a  place  of  shelter.  And 


ISFENDIYAR'S  SEVEN  LABORS          335 

fortunate  was  their  haste,  for  as  they  arrived  upon  the 
skirts  of  a  mountain  there  suddenly  swept  down  upon  them 
a  furious  storm  of  wind  and  heavy  snow  which  covered  all 
the  ground;  yea,  and  biting  cold,  which  almost  froze  the 
heroes  where  they  stood.  Now  to  escape  the  wrath  of  the 
elements,  Isfendiyar  and  his  men  took  shelter  in  a  huge 
cavern,  and  there  three  lingering  days  they  spent,  while 
the  snow  still  fell,  and  'still  the  chill  winds  blew,  and 
man  and  beast  grew  faint  for  want  of  food. 

Then,  in  their  desperation  and  anguish  of  suffering, 
Isfendiyar  and  his  warriors,  with  heads  exposed,  prostrated 
themselves  in  solemn  prayer  unto  the  Almighty.  And 
verily  Heaven  was  kind,  for  soon  the  snow  and  mighty 
wind  entirely  ceased,  enabling  the  heroes  to  leave  the  caves 
of  the  mountain  safe  and  unharmed.  But  when  asked  of 
the  final  stage  of  the  Heft-Khan,  Karugsar  said: 

"Alas,  O  Valorous  One!  Forty  farsangs  yet  lie  be- 
tween thee  and  the  Brazen  Fortress,  and  every  inch  of  the 
road  is  full  of  peril. 

"Along  those  plains  of  burning  sand, 

No  bird  can  move,  nor  ant,  nor  fly; 
No  water  slakes  the  fiery  land, 
Intensely  glows  the  flaming  sky. 

No  tiger  fierce,  nor  lion  ever 

Could  breathe  that  pestilential  air; 
Even  the  unsparing  vulture  never 

Ventures  on  blood-stained  pinions  there." 

Now  though  the  picture  thus  painted  was  dark,  Isfen- 
diyar determined  to  press  forward.  And  lo!  when  they 
were  come  unto  the  place  said  to  be  covered  with  burning 
sand,  they  found  the  ground  cool  and  pleasant  unto  their 


336  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

feet,  for  the  storm  in  its  fury  had  lessened  the  burning  heat, 
making  the  last  stage  of  the  Heft-Khan  the  easiest  of  all. 

But  though  the  Heft-Khan  was  now  accomplished, 
there  remained  yet  to  be  taken  the  Brazen  Fortress.  And 
as  no  accessible  point  of  attack  could  be  discovered,  Isfen- 
diyar  quickly  transformed  his  warlike  cavalcade  into  a 
caravan  of  peaceful  merchantmen,  thus  gaining  admission 
into  the  fort.  And  being  generous  of  heart,  he  arranged  to 
give  a  great  banquet  unto  Arjasp  and  the  demon  chiefs, 
feasting  them  right  merrily.  Then,  when  no  man  was 
master  of  his  fate  save  Isfendiyar  alone,  suddenly  the  Per- 
sians fell  upon  the  Deevs,  completely  annihilating  them. 

And  now,  this  glorious  victory  achieved,  Isfendiyar 
made  haste  to  return  unto  Iran,  taking  with  him  his  sisters 
and  much  treasure.  And  lo!  the  mouths  of  all  men  over- 
flowed with  praise  for  the  brave  young  hero  of  the  Heft- 
Khan  who  once  more  had  saved  Iran  from  her  foes. 


THE  COMBAT  OF  ISFENDIYAR 
AGAINST  RUSTEM 

BEHOLD!  it  is  recorded  that  Gushtasp  the  Shah, 
after   the  return  of  his  glorious  son   Isfendiyar 
from  the  triumphs  of  his  great  Heft-Khan,  instead 
Jfai  resigning  unto  him  the  throne,  as  he  had  sworn  to  do, 
at  once  sent  him  forth  upon  a  new  adventure,  which  was 
nothing  less  than  to  slay,  or  bring  unto  him  in  chains, 
Rustem,  the  Champion  of  the  World.    For  he  said : 

"Verily,  in  former  days,  this  Mighty  One  was  obedient 
unto  the  Shahs,  but  now  doth  he  hold  himself  superior. 
For  did  he  not  decline  to  come  unto  my  aid  against  Arjasp?X 
Go,  therefore,  and  conquer  him,  be  it  by  strategem  or  by 
force,  bringing  him  bound  before  me.  Then  shalt  thou 
be  Shah  of  Iran." 

Now  Isfendiyar  was  grieved  when  he  heard  these  words 
of  his  father,  and,  unchaining  the  door  of  his  lips,  he  has- 
tened to  remind  his  sire  of  all  the  hero's  glorious  deeds. 
And  he  said: 

"O  my  father,  I  pray  thee  ask  of  me  anything  else 
than  this — that  I  should  make  war  against  the  King  of 
China,  or  against  any  other  ruler  under  the  sun;  but  do 
not  ask  me  to  lay  hands  upon  this  grand  old  champion, 
who  hath  been  the  glory  and  the  defence  of  Iran  for  hun- 
dreds of  years.  Sooner  would  I  relinquish  the  glories  of 

sovereignty  forever." 

337 


338  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

But  Gushtasp  would  not  give  ear  unto  the  words  of  his 
son,  saying  angrily  unto  him: 

"Verily,  thou  forgettest  that  a  son  oweth  ever  obedience, 
without  question,  unto  his  father!  Go,  therefore,  and  let 
me  not  behold  thy  face  until  thou  presentest  this  Haughty 
One  before  me  in  chains,  for  I  will  that  his  pride  be  brought 
low,  that  he  may  recognize  that  still  there  is  a  Shah  in 
Iran." 

Then  Isfendiyar,  perceiving  his  father's  intention,  said 
unto  him  coldly: 

"Alas,  my  father!  now  truly  I  perceive  that  thou  send- 
est  me  forth  in  guile.  For  well  thou  knowest  that  no 
champion  in  all  these  long  years  hath  ever  been  able  to 
stand  before  the  might  of  Rustem,  and  so  thou  thinkest 
thus  to  rid  thyself  of  Isfendiyar,  and  the  necessity  of 
abandoning  unto  him  the  throne.  I  say  unto  thee, 
therefore,  that  Isfendiyar  desireth  it  no  longer.  Never- 
theless, since  he  is  thy  slave,  he  will  go  forth  at  thy  bid- 
ding, and  if  peradventure  he  falleth,  then  truly  wilt  thou 
be  the  murderer  of  thy  son,  and  his  blood  will  be  upon 
thy  head." 

So,  though  against  the  wishes  of  his  mother,  Isfendiyar 
placed  himself  at  the  head  of  a  mighty  host  and  set  forth 
upon  his  disagreeable  errand.  But  behold!  when  they 
had  gone  but  a  little  way,  the  camel  upon  which  the  Hero 
was  seated  laid  him  down  in  the  dust,  refusing  to  rise  from 
the  ground,  though  the  driver  struck  him  many  times. 
Now  as  this  was  regarded  by  all  as  an  evil  omen,  lo!  the 
head  of  the  beast  was  cut  off  that  the  evil  might  fall  upon 
it  and  not  upon  his  rider.  Nevertheless,  Isfendiyar  was 
troubled  at  this  misfortune,  pondering  what  the  sign 
might  mean. 


ISFENDIYAR  AGAINST  RUSTEM         339 

Now  when  the  cavalcade  drew  nigh  unto  Seistan,  Isfen- 
diyar  called  unto  him  Bahman,  his  son,  giving  unto  him 
a  message  to  carry  unto  Rustem.  And  behold,  the  mes- 
sage contained  none  but  kind  words,  for  Isfendiyar  hoped 
that  thus  all  might  yet  be  well.  So  Bahman  sped  forth, 
but  when  he  was  come  unto  the  courts  of  Rustem  he  found 
only  Zal  within,  for  the  great  Pehliva  was  absent  with  his 
followers  upon  a  hunting  trip.  Now  the  aged  Prince 
would  have  entertained  the  youth  until  his  son's  return, 
but  Bahman  declared  the  need  of  haste,  so  without  tarry- 
ing he  set  forth  for  Rustem's  camp. 

And  behold!  after  a  long  day's  travel,  the  youth  arrived 
at  the  halting-place  of  the  hunters  of  Seistan.  Now  it  was 
evening  as  he  drew  nigh,  and  at  once  he  perceived  about 
the  blazing  fire  a  man,  like  unto  a  mountain,  roasting  a 
wild  ass  for  his  supper.  Yea,  and  about  him  were  many 
brave  heroes  all  gaily  preparing  their  evening  meal.  But 
lo!  as  he  gazed,  what  was  Bahman's  astonishment  to  be- 
hold that  Rustem,  of  himself,  devoured  the  whole  of  a  wild 
ass  for  his  meal;  nor  did  this  wondrous  feat  appear  to  be 
anything  out  of  the  ordinary. 

Then  was  the  youth  filled  with  consternation,  for  he 
thought  as  he  gazed  upon  Rustem,  who  seemed  unto  him 
as  a  huge  mountain  of  might,  that  not  even  Isfendiyar,  his 
gallant  father,  could  stand  before  such  an  elephant  of  war. 
So,  in  his  fear,  Bahman  hastily  loosened  a  large  rock  from 
the  mountain-side  and  sent  it  rolling  unto  the  place  where 
Rustem  sat,  hoping  thus  to  save  his  father  from  harm. 

But  Rustem,  when  warned  by  his  followers  as  to  the 
speeding  rock,  smiled,  and  rising  leisurely,  with  his  foot 
he  sent  it  spinning  far  out  upon  the  plain.  Then  was 
Bahman  still  more  amazed,  and  also  affrighted,  so  that  for 


340  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

long  he  dared  not  come  forth  from  his  hiding-place.  Yet 
when  his  courage  finally  allowed  him  to  present  himself 
before  the  Pehliva,  Rustem  welcomed  him  warmly.  And 
as  he  entertained  his  guest,  behold,  again  he  ate  as  though 
his  day's  fast  had  but  now  been  broken,  and  once  more 
Bahman  marvelled  at  the  might  and  majesty  of  the  great 
hero  of  Seistan.  But,  the  meal  being  ended,  the  youth 
delivered  at  once  his  father's  message.  Then  was  Rustem 
filled  with  wrath  and  amazement,  yet  restrained  he  his 
anger,  replying  courteously  unto  Bahman: 

"O  Noble  Youth!  I  pray  thee  bear  greeting  unto  Isfen- 
diyar,  thy  gallant  sire,  whose  glory  hath  added  such  lustre 
unto  the  crown  of  Iran,  and  say  unto  him  that  Rustem  re- 
joiceth  that  at  last  he  is  to  behold  his  face.  But  as  for  his 
demand,  surely  it  is  the  device  of  the  Evil  One,  and  can  in 
nowise  come  to  pass,  for  no  man  shall  ever  behold  Rustem 
in  chains.  Wherefore,  say  unto  thy  glorious  sire  that  the 
Pehliva  of  Seistan  beg  him  to  honor  their  house  as  his 
guest,  and  when  we  shall  have  feasted  together,  then  will 
I  go  forth  unto  Gushtasp.  And  his  anger,  which  is  unjust, 
will  vanish  like  unto  the  morning  mist,  and  all  will  again 
be  well. 

So  Bahman  sped  back  unto  his  father,  and  Rustem  fol- 
lowed after  to  present,  in  person,  his  homage  unto  the 
Prince.  And  behold!  when  he  was  come  near  unto  the 
royal  camp,  the  Pehliva  dismounted  from  Rakush,  going 
forward  upon  foot  to  pay  his  respects  unto  Isfendiyar. 
For  he  wished  to  pay  honor  unto  him,  not  only  as  his 
Prince,  but  also  as  the  brave  hero  of  the  Heft-Khan. 
Now  when  the  two  had  embraced,  Rustem  said: 

"O  Valorous  Prince,  whose  wondrous  deeds  have  filled 
the  world  with  glory,  behold,  I  have  a  boon  to  ask  at  thy 


ISFENDIYAR  AGAINST  RUSTEM         341 

hands,  for  I  desire  that  thou  enter  into  my  house  as  my 
honored  guest." 

But  Isfendiyar,  whose  eyes  could  not  cease  from  gazing 
upon  the  mighty  form  of  Rustem,  nevertheless  replied  unto 
him: 

" O  Champion  of  the  World!  Unfortunately  my  errand 
forbiddeth  me  to  eat  of  thy  bread  and  salt,  otherwise 
my  soul  would  joy  in  thy  hospitality.  And  alas!  though 
it  is  grievous  unto  me,  yet  must  I  be  faithful  unto  my 
mission." 

Then  Rustem  replied  unto  Isfendiyar,  speaking  still 
more  earnestly,  and  he  said: 

"Yet  again,  O  brave  Isfendiyar,  do  I  entreat  thee  to 
enter  into  my  house  in  friendship.  Then  will  I  do  all  that 
thou  desirest,  except  only  that  I  cannot  submit  unto  the 
chains,  for  that  would  be  neither  fitting  nor  right — as  thou 
well  knowest." 

Now  unto  this  Isfendiyar  replied: 

"Alas!  not  only  can  I  not  feast  with  thee,  O  Mighty 
One,  but,  furthermore,  if  thou  wilt  not  hearken  unto  my 
demands,  then  must  I  fall  upon  thee  in  enmity.  But,  as 
my  soul  goeth  out  to  thee  on  account  of  thy  deeds  of  valor, 
to-day  let  there  be  peace  between  us,  and  do  thou  feast 
with  me  in  my  tent." 

So  Rustem,  hoping  that  thus  unpleasantness  might  yet 
be  avoided,  replied: 

"Gracious  Prince,  gladly  will  I  come  unto  thee,  but 
first  must  I  change  my  robes,  for,  as  thou  seest,  I  am  attired 
for  the  chase,  and  not  as  is  fitting  unto  the  guest  of  a  Prince. 
When  thy  banquet  is  ready,  therefore,  send  forth  a  mes- 
senger, and  I  will  come  unto  thee  with  joy." 

But  behold!  when  Rustem  was  gone,  Isfendiyar  pon- 


342  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

dered  over  that  which  was  come  to  pass,  and  his  heart  was 
full  of  care.  So  he  said  unto  his  brother: 

"Verily,  since  the  sword  must  decide  our  strife,  not 
only  have  I  no  place  in  the  house  of  Rustem,  but  neither  is 
it  fitting  that  he  should  enter  into  mine.  Wherefore,  I  shall 
not  send  for  him  to  come  unto  my  feast!" 

But  Bashutan,  shaking  his  head  sadly,  replied  unto 
Isfendiyar: 

"O  my  brother,  truly  it  seemeth  unto  me  a  pity  that 
heroes  like  unto  Rustem  and  Isfendiyar  should  meet  in 
enmity.  I  counsel  thee,  therefore,  to  disregard  the  unjust 
demands  of  our  father,  for  much  I  fear  that  he  seeketh  but 
to  ensnare  thee." 

Then  Isfendiyar  was  thoughtful,  but  finally  he  said: 

"Truly  I  am  not  deceived  as  to  the  desires  of  Gushtasp, 
but  if  I  obey  not  my  father  it  will  be  a  reproach  unto  me 
in  this  world,  and  in  the  next  I  shall  have  to  render  account 
for  it  before  God,  my  Maker — for  so  teacheth  Zerdusht 
the  Holy  One." 

So,  though  Isfendiyar  prepared  him  a  feast,  when  it  was 
ready  he  sent  not  to  summon  his  guest.  And  behold! 
when  Rustem  had  waited  long,  he  was  angry  because  the 
messenger  came  not.  Nevertheless,  he  tarried  not  at  home, 
but  hastened  unto  the  tent  of  Isfendiyar  to  see  what  had 
befallen. 

Now  when  the  warriors  of  the  Prince  beheld  Rustem 
draw  near,  lo,  they  gazed  in  open-eyed  admiration,  saying 
among  themselves: 

"Saw  you  ever  such  limbs,  and  such  a  chest  on  mor- 
tal man?  Surely  Gushtasp  is  bereft  of  reason,  or  never 
would  he  send  Isfendiyar  thus  unto  his  death.  But  alas ! 
the  old  Shah  huggeth  his  throne  and  his  treasure  ever 


ISFENDIYAR  AGAINST  RUSTEM         343 

closer  as  age  creepeth  on,  caring  naught  for  the  welfare 
of  Iran." 

But,  all  unconscious  of  the  admiration  and  fear  he  was 
exciting,  Rustem,  hot  and  angry,  presented  himself  before 
the  Prince,  saying: 

"  O  Young  Man,  thou  mayest  be  a  hero,  but  certainly 
thou  seemest  not  to  be  acquainted  with  the  laws  of  courtesy 
due  unto  an  invited  guest,  since  thou  deemest  him  not 
worthy  of  a  messenger.  But  perhaps  thou  knowest  not 
that  it  is  Rustem  whom  thou  treatest  thus  disdainfully  ? — 
Rustem,  whose  glorious  deeds  have  made  the  throne  of 
Iran  to  shine  as  a  beacon  light  unto  all  the  world!" 

Now  Isfendiyar,  abashed  at  the  anger  of  the  Great  Peh- 
liva,  excused  himself  for  his  breach  of  courtesy,  saying: 

"O  Mighty  One,  verily  I  had  thought  to  save  thee  the 
long,  hot  journey  hither;  but  since  thou  art  come,  pray 
enter,  and  let  us  drink  a  cup  of  wine  together." 

Now,  thus  speaking,  behold!  Isfendiyar  offered  unto 
Rustem  a  place  at  his  left  hand,  smiling  courteously: 

But  Rustem,  advancing  proudly,  said  quietly  unto 
Isfendiyar: 

"Not  at  thy  left,  O  Prince,  for  never  yet  hath  Rustem 
sat  save  at  the  right  hand  of  the  Shahs  of  Iran." 

Thus  spake  Rustem,  and  behold!  so  majestic  was  the 
mien  of  the  old  Hero,  as  he  thus  calmly  asserted  his  rights, 
that  at  once  a  chair  of  gold  was  brought  and  placed  at 
Isfendiyar's  right  hand.  But,  though  outwardly  calm,  the 
heart  of  Rustem  burned  at  the  dishonor  done  unto  him, 
and  even  the  wine  soothed  not  his  ruffled  spirit.  Yea,  and 
the  unfavorable  impression  made  by  the  Prince  was  fur- 
ther increased  by  his  words.  For,  after  drinking  for  a 
few  minutes  in  silence,  he  said: 


344  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

"  So  thou  hast  ever  sat  at  the  right  hand  of  Kings,  Old 
Warrior!  Strange!  for  surely  it  hath  been  said  unto  me 
that  Rustem  is  sprung  of  evil  stock.  Now,  truly,  is  not 
Zal,  thy  father,  of  demon  extraction?  And  was  he  not 
reared  by  a  vile  bird  that  gave  unto  him  garbage  for  nour- 
ishment? So,  at  least,  it  hath  been  reported  unto  me." 

Alas!  this  was  an  insult  too  biting  for  Rustem  to  bear 
with  any  degree  of  patience,  so,  frowning  angrily,  he  said: 

"Thou  and  I,  O  Prince,  can  boast  of  the  same  origin,  as 
thou  well  knowest,  since  we  are  both  descended  from 
Husheng  the  Shah.  Why,  then,  use  such  injurious  lan- 
guage ?  Yea,  and  would  it  not,  perhaps,  be  becoming  for 
Isfendiyar  to  remember  that  but  for  the  honor  and  fidelity 
of  Rustem  and  his  house  unto  the  Shahs,  Isfendiyar  of  the 
Heft-Khan  would  not  be  numbered  among  the  heroes  of 
Iran?  But,  after  all,  what  hath  he  done ?  Why!  he  hath 
slain  Arjasp,  one  puny  King,  while  over  against  that  is  the 
long  record  of  Rustem's  glorious  deeds,  which  need  not  to 
be  recounted." 

Now  Rustem's  vehemence  and  the  disdainful  tone  of  his 
voice  made  it  hard  for  Isfendiyar  to  remember  the  cour- 
tesy due  unto  a  guest,  but,  restraining  his  anger,  he  said 
softly  unto  him: 

"  O  Modest  One!  Why  dost  thou  raise  thy  voice  so  high 
and  speak  so  loftily?  For,  after  all,  thou  wert,  and  art 
still,  but  the  slave  of  the  Shah,  dependent  for  thy  very 
breath  upon  his  clemency.  And  after  all,  what  were  thy 
seven  boasted  labors  to  my  terrible  Heft-Khan  ?  And  who, 
I  ask  you, — by  the  power  of  his  sword — diffused  the  bless- 
ings of  the  faith  of  Zerdusht  throughout  the  world  ?  Verily, 
Rustem  hath  performed  the  duties  of  a  warrior  and  a  ser- 
vant, but  Isfendiyar  the  holy  functions  of  a  sovereign  and 


ISFENDIYAR  AGAINST  RUSTEM         345 

a  prophet.  But  now  have  we  boasted  enough,  for  behold, 
the  day  is  almost  ended  and  I  am  hungry.  Let  us  eat 
and  drink,  therefore,  for  to-morrow  will  we  meet  in  enmity 
upon  the  field  of  battle." 

So  a  great  banquet  was  spread,  and  the  two  heroes  sat 
down  to  feast,  Rustem  astonishing  Isfendiyar  greatly,  for 
never  had  the  Prince  dreamed  that  mortal  man  could  eat 
and  drink  so  much,  and  he  wondered  not  now  that  Rus- 
tem's  might  was  reckoned  equal  to  that  of  a  hundred  strong 
men.  When  the  time  of  departure  was  come,  however, 
once  more  Rustem  begged  Isfendiyar  to  be  his  guest  on 
the  morrow,  but  again  the  Prince  refused.  Then  the  Hero 
knew  that  words  were  idle,  and  he  was  sorrowful  in  his 
soul,  for  within  himself  he  said: 

"Truly  the  Evil  One  is  in  this  whole  affair,  and  no  good 
can  come  of  it.  Now  if  I  suffer  these  chains,  men  will 
mock  that  Rustem  permitted  a  boy  to  bind  him,  and  the 
dishonor  of  it  can  never  be  wiped  out.  Yet  if  I  slay  this 
stripling  on  the  morrow,  the  glory  of  a  lifetime  will  be  tar- 
nished, for  men  will  say  that  in  his  last  days  Rustem 
lifted  up  his  hand  against  one  of  the  royal  house." 

Nevertheless,  concealing  his  sorrow  and  dismay,  he 
replied  gaily  unto  Isfendiyar,  saying: 

"So  be  it  then,  O  Stubborn  One!  to-morrow  will  we 
meet  in  conflict,  since  naught  else  will  content  thee.  And 
behold!  when  I  shall  have  lifted  thee  lightly  from  off  thy 
saddle,  straight  will  I  convey  thee  unto  Silver-crowned 
Zal,  who  shall  place  thee  upon  the  ivory  throne,  while 
upon  thy  head  a  crown  of  gold  shall  glitter.  Yea,  and 
when  that  we  have  feasted,  right  loyally  our  troops  shall 
fight  for  thee  as  King,  and  we  will  serve  thee  faithfully  as 
thy  Pehliva  forever  and  a  day." 


346  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

But  Isfendiyar,  thinking  that  Rustem  mocked,  said 
angrily : 

"Old  Man!  Verily  thou  hadst  best  save  thy  breath  for 
combat,  since  to-morrow,  by  the  aid  of  Zerdusht,  will  I 
make  the  world  dark  unto  thine  eyes." 

Then  Rustem,  laughing,  said : 

"O  Foolish  Youth,  when  Rustem  wieldeth  his  mace, 
behold,  the  world  trembleth,  and  the  head  of  his  enemy 
falls.  Consider,  therefore,  thy  course." 

Now  when  he  had  thus  spoken,  Rustem  rode  forth  from 
out  the  tents  of  Isfendiyar,  and  though  his  lips  smiled,  his 
heart  was  heavy  with  foreboding.  Nevertheless,  when  he 
was  come  unto  his  palace,  he  commanded  that  his  armor 
and  implements  of  war  be  brought  before  him.  Then,  as 
he  gazed  upon  them,  sighing,  he  said: 

"O  my  raiment  of  battle,  verily  thou  hast  rested  long, 
yet  once  again  must  I  don  thee  for  combat.  And  alas! 
I  greatly  fear  me  that  it  is  for  my  last  fight." 

But  behold!  when  sunshine  once  more  flooded  the 
world,  then  the  Pehliva  threw  off  his  sadness,  for  he  re- 
solved once  more  to  speak  persuasive  words  unto  the 
Prince.  So,  having  received  his  father's  blessing,  he 
armed  himself  for  battle,  and  rode  forth  unto  the^ents  of 
Isfendiyar,  and  lo!  when  he  was  come  near,  he  shouted 
gaily: 

"Ho,  Brave  Isfendiyar!  Why  sleepest  thou  when  the 
hero  with  whom  thou  wouldst  try  thy  strength  hath  come 
forth  to  meet  thee?" 

Now  Isfendiyar,  at  this  call,  quickly  issued  from  his 
tent,  and,  leaping  upon  his  charger,  rode  like  the  wind  unto 
his  waiting  antagonist.  So  the  two  met,  the  old  warrior 
and  the  young,  and  truly  they  were  a  doughty  pair.  But 


ISFENDIYAR  AGAINST  RUSTEM         347 

Rustem's  efforts  at  persuasion  were  vain,  for  Isfendiyar 
would  hear  of  naught  but  battle. 

So,  after  the  useless  controversy,  behold,  the  Champions 
began  their  combat.  Now  they  began  the  fight  with  their 
spears,  but  as  the  contest  lasted  for  long  hours,  they  tested 
their  strength  and  skill  successively  with  their  swords,  clubs, 
and  lassos;  but  still  the  end  came  not.  For,  though  they 
fought  until  both  they  and  their  horses  were  worn  out  with 
weariness,  neither  could  prevail.  So  they  stopped  them 
awhile  to  rest. 

But  behold!  as  they  rested,  Bahman,  the  son  of  Isfen- 
diyar, rushed  up  to  his  father,  informing  him  that  Rustem's 
lieutenants  had  provoked  a  battle  between  the  two  armies, 
and  that  as  a  consequence  two  valiant  youths,  sons  of 
Isfendiyar,  were  slain,  and  the  Shah's  troops  put  to  rout 
with  great  slaughter.  Then  was  Isfendiyar  transported 
with  rage.  Calling  aloud  unto  Rustem,  therefore,  he  said: 

" Ho,  Old  Man!  Dost  thou  hear  this ?  Thy  chiefs  have 
fallen  upon  my  troops,  killing  my  two  brave  sons.  Verily, 
I  had  thought  such  treachery  beneath  the  Mighty  Rus- 
tem." 

Now  when  Rustem  heard  these  words,  behold,  he 
trembled  like  a  leaf.  But  he  said : 

"O  Isfendiyar,  I  swear  unto  thee  by  the  head  of  the 
King,  by  the  sun,  and  by  my  conquering  sword,  that  no 
part  have  I  had  in  this  matter.  Yea,  and  to  prove  it  unto 
thee,  I  swear  that  whoever  hath  been  in  fault,  even  though 
it  be  my  dearest,  lo,  he  shall  be  bound  hand  and  foot  and 
given  over  unto  thee  for  vengeance." 

But,  unplacated,  the  Prince  cried  angrily  unto  Rustem: 

"Verily,  O  Treacherous  One,  thy  words  have  a  pleas- 
ant sound,  but  I  say  unto  thee,  it  is  idle  to  kill  the  snake 


348  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

that  the  peacock's  death  may  be  avenged.  Thine  own 
blood,  therefore,  shall  pay  for  that  of  my  sons,  for  verily 
my  arrows  shall  make  the  world  dark  unto  thine  eyes." 

Now  thus  saying,  Isfendiyar  seized  his  bow,  and  whiz! 
whiz!  went  a  shower  of  arrows  through  the  air,  fastening 
themselves  in  the  body  of  Rustem  and  Rakush,  his  steed. 
Yea,  twice  thirty  arrows  were  there  in  all,  and  not  one  of 
them  was  there  that  did  not  wound  the  Hero  or  his  horse, 
while  Rustem's  missiles  fell  harmless  upon  Isfendiyar, 
because  that  Zerdusht  had  charmed  his  body  against  all 
danger  so  that  it  was  like  unto  brass. 

Then  Rustem,  seeing  that  Rakush  was  like  to  perish  of 
his  wounds,  and  feeling  also  his  own  strength  going  from 
loss  of  blood,  cried  unto  Isfendiyar: 

"Behold,  night  is  at  hand,  O  Angry  One,  and  since  even 
heroes  cannot  combat  in  the  darkness,  go  thy  way,  and  we 
will  meet  again  in  the  morning." 

But  Isfendiyar,  seeing  that  Rustem  staggered  in  his 
saddle,  said: 

"  Old  Man,  think  not  to  escape  me  thus,  for  yet  there  is 
light  enough  to  finish  our  combat." 

But  Rustem  replied  unto  the  Eager  One: 

"Not  so,  O  Isfendiyar!  Farewell,  therefore,  until 
morning." 

Now  so  saying,  quickly  Rustem  turned  him  and  swam 
across  the  stream.  And  behold!  Isfendiyar  was  amazed, 
for  he  knew  that  both  steed  and  rider  were  sore  wounded. 
Then,  standing  upon  the  bank,  with  his  lips  he  reviled  the 
fleeing  Herb,  but  lo !  in  his  heart  he  was  filled  with  admi- 
ration and  wonder  at  his  prowess. 

And  now,  Rustem  having  escaped  him,  sorrowfully 
Isfendiyar  returned  unto  his  tent,  where  he  mourned  over 


Isfendiyar  seized  his  bow,  and  whiz!  whiz!  went  a  shower  of  arrows. 


ISFENDIYAR  AGAINST  RUSTEM         349 

the  bodies  of  his  two  sons.  But  when  the  night  was  far 
spent,  lo,  he  placed  them  on  biers  of  ebony,  in  coffins  of 
gold,  and  sent  them  unto  the  Shah  with  this  message: 

"O  King  of  Evil  Devices!  Behold,  I  am  sending  unto 
thee  the  first  fruits  of  thy  seeds  of  guile.  Isfendiyar  is  yet 
alive,  but  Heaven  alone  knoweth  what  may  befall  to- 
morrow." 

Then  the  Prince  said  unto  his  brother: 

"O  Bashutan,  my  brother!  Verily  this  Rustem  is  not 
mortal.  For  neither  with  my  sword  nor  javelin  could  I  do 
harm  unto  his  body  formed  of  rock  and  iron.  But,  thanks 
unto  Zerdusht,  the  charmed  arrows  have  done  their  work, 
and  it  will  indeed  be  wonderful  if  the  Mighty  One  liveth 
throughout  the  night." 

Meanwhile,  when  the  wounded  Hero,  of  whom  Isfendiyar 
spoke  thus  feelingly,  was  come  into  the  presence  of  Zal  and 
Rudabeh,  behold,  they  rent  the  air  with  their  cries  of  woe; 
for  never  yet  had  Rustem  returned  unto  them  vanquished; 
neither  had  any  man  e'er  done  such  harm  unto  his  body. 
Now  they  cried  out  sore  in  their  distress,  and  Rustem,  too, 
lamented,  for  the  pain  of  his  wounds  was  great.  Pres- 
ently, however,  seeing  that  the  case  of  his  son  was  indeed 
serious,  Zal  bethought  him  of  a  remedy.  So  he  said: 

"O  my  glorious  son,  mourn  not  so  bitterly,  for  yet 
there  is  hope  for  thee,  since  in  this,  our  extremity,  once 
more  I  shall  call  unto  our  aid  the  Wondrous  Bird  of  God." 

So  at  once  Zal  went  forth  unto  a  high  mountain,  taking 
with  him  three  golden  censers  filled  with  fire,  and  as  many 
mighty  magicians,  who  caused  the  fires  to  glow  brighter 
and  ever  brighter.  Andlo!  at  the  end  of  the  first  watch  of 
the  night,  Silver-crowned  Zal  dropped  into  the  brightly 
glowing  fire  the  glorious  golden  feather  of  the  Simurgh. 


350  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Then  instantly  a  mighty  stir  of  wings  filled  all  the  air,  and 
the  Wondrous  Bird  of  God  dropped  down  beside  her  child, 
listening  sympathetically  unto  his  plaint.  And,  the  story 
being  told,  the  Simurgh  said: 

"Let  the  Mighty  Rustem  and  his  glorious  steed  be 
brought  unto  me,  for  lo!  there  is  healing  in  my  wings." 

So  quickly  the  magicians  hastened  back  unto  the  pal- 
ace, and  though  Rustem  and  Rakush  had  scarcely  strength 
to  move,  yet  went  they  unto  the  mountain  with  all  the 
speed  they  could,  pausing  not  until  they  were  come  into 
the  presence  of  the  Bird  of  God. 

And  now  the  glorious  Simurgh,  swiftly  passing  her 
golden  beak  over  the  body  of  the  wounded  Hero,  drew 
thence  four  wicked  arrow-heads.  Then  caressing  the 
wounds  softly  and  lightly  with  her  fluffy  wings,  lo,  in  a 
moment,  Rustem  felt  all  his  strength  return.  Yea,  and 
Rakush,  too,  rejoiced,  neighing,  and  tossing  his  mighty 
head  for  gladness  when  that  the  six  charmed  arrow-heads 
troubled  his  peace  no  more;  and  then,  the  work  of  healing 
done,  the  Simurgh  said  unto  Rustem: 

"Alas,  O  Son  of  Zal!  Wherefore  hast  thou  entered  upon 
combat  with  the  son  of  the  Shah,  and  the  beloved  of  Zer- 
dusht?  For  verily  it  can  bring  thee  naught  but  woe;  and 
there  is  little  that  even  I  can  do  to  aid  thee.  For  never 
hath  there  appeared  in  the  world  so  brave  and  so  perfect 
a  hero  as  Isfendiyar.  Yea,  and  the  favor  of  Heaven  is 
with  him  also,  for  in  his  great  Heft-Khan,  by  some  clever 
artifice,  he  succeeded  in  killing  a  Simurgh,  and  the  farther 
thou  art  removed  from  his  invincible  arm,  therefore,  the 
greater  will  be  thy  safety.  For  alas!  in  the  Book  of  Fate 
it  is  written  that  whosoever  sheddeth  the  blood  of  Isfen- 
diyar, he  also  shall  perish  miserably,  never  again  knowing 


ISFENDIYAR  AGAINST  RUSTEM         351 

joy  in  this  life,  and  also  suffering  pangs  in  the  life  to  come. 
But  if  this  fate  dismay  thee  not,  come  forth  with  me,  and 
I  will  reveal  unto  thee  a  way  to  lay  thine  enemy  low — if  the 
stars  decree  that  his  hour  is  come." 

So,  wishing  not  to  face  defeat,  Rustem  mounted  into  the 
golden  chariot  of  which  he  had  heard  so  oft  from  his 
father,  and  the  Simurgh  bare  him  far,  far  away,  even  unto 
the  shores  of  a  mighty  sea.  Now  there  she  put  the  Hero 
down  softly  in  a  garden  wherein  grew  a  tamarisk-tree, 
whose  roots  we^Srf^e^gjround,  but  whose  branches 
pierced  unto  heaven.  Then  the  Simurgh  said: 

"O  Glorious  Son  of  Zal,  I  pray  thee  choose  from  this 
tree  the  longest,  straightest  and  finest  branch' that  ttfou 
canst  find,  for  to  this  tamarisk^betigh  is  bound  the  fate  of 
Isfendiyar.  Yea,  and  after  thou  hast  secured  jt^jnake  it 
yet  straighter  before  the  firfe,  search  out  a  well-tempered 
arrow-head,  feather  it  well,  and  if  Isfendiyar's  hour  is 
come,  this  is  the  weapon  which,  when  directed  unto  his 
forehead,  will  cause  him  to  perish,  for  only  through  his  eye 
can  this  hero  be  wounded,  since  Zerdusht  hath  made  the 
rest  of  his  body  invulnerable.  But  yet  once  more  I  counsel 
thee,  bring  this  matter  to  a  good  end,  for  so  shalt  thou 
escape  much  sorrow." 

Now  having  thus  spoken,  behold,  the  Simurgh  carried 
Rustem  safely  back  unto  the  palace  of  Zal,  bidding  him 
be  of  good  cheer.  After  her  departure,  however,  the  Hero 
hastened  to  carry  out  her  commands  as  to  the  fashioning 
of  the  fateful  arrow. 

But  behold!  when  morning  was  come,  Rustem  mounted 
upon  fiery  Rakush,  and  rode  serenely  forth  unto  the  camp 
of  Isfendiyar.  And  lo!  his  antagonist  yet  slumbered,  for 
he  thought  of  a  surety  that  Rustem  must  have  perished 


352  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

from  his  wounds  during  the  night.  So,  beholding  that 
Isfendiyar  yet  slept,  Rustem,  lifting  up  his  voice  of  thun- 
der, cried: 

"Ho,  Brave  Crocodile  of  War!  Is  it  a  time  to  slumber 
when  thou  hast  challenged  a  hero  to  combat?  Get  thee 
up,  for  verily  Rustem  is  not  accustomed  thus  to  be  kept 
waiting." 

Now  when  Isfendiyar,  thus  awakened,  beheld  that  it 
was  really  Rustem  who  awaited  him  without  the  tent,  he 
was  amazed.  But  quickly  donning  his  armor,  and  mount- 
ing his  horse,  he  soon  appeared  in  the  presence  of  Rus- 
tem, saying  unto  him: 

"O  Elephant-limbed  Warrior!  Yesterday  thou  wert 
wounded  almost  unto  death  by  my  arrows,  and  to-day 
there  is  no  trace  of  them  either  upon  thee  or  thy  steed. 
Pray  how  is  this  ? 

"But,  then,  thy  father,  Zal,  is  a  sorcerer, 

And  he  by  charm  and  spell 
Hath  cured  all  the  wounds  of  the  warrior, 

And  now  he  is  safe  and  well. 
For  the  wounds  I  gave  could  never  be 
Closed  up  except  by  sorcery. 
Yea,  the  wounds  I  gave  thee  in. every  part 
Could  never  be  cured  but  by  magic  art." 

Then  Rustem,  replying  unto  Isfendiyar,  said: 
"O  Royal  Archer!  Know  that  if  thou  wert  to  shoot  at 
me  a  thousand  arrows,  they  would  all  drop  harmless  unto 
the  ground.  Therefore,  let  us  be  friends,  and  not  only 
shalt  thou  be  placed  upon  the  throne,  but  all  the  treasure 
of  the  house  of  Zal  shall  be  thine." 

But  Isfendiyar  replied  impatiently  unto  Rustem: 
"Brave  Prater!    Wilt  thou  never  cease  from  thy  idle 


ISFENDIYAR  AGAINST  RUSTEM         353 

talk  ?  Now  once  for  all  I  say  unto  thee  that  never  will  I 
forsake  the  paths  of  God  by  disobeying  my  father.  Choose, 
therefore,  between  chains  and  battle." 

Then  Rustem,  seeing  that  his  submission  was  not 
accepted,  though  he  had  offered  to  sacrifice  much,  bent  his 
bow,  and  laid  the  arrow  of  tamarisk  in  rest,  and  so  held  it 
while  he  prayed  unto  God.  And  lo!  the  Prince,  noting 
that  the  Hero  delayed,  thought  that  he  did  so  from  fear, 
and  he  taunted  him.  Then  Rustem,  hesitating  no  longer, 
let  his  arrow  fly  toward  his  enemy,  and  behold!  it  sped 
straight  unto  its  mark,  piercing  the  eye  of  Isfendiyar,  so 
that  the  bow  dropped  from  his  hand,  and  he  clutched  at 
his  horse's  mane.  Yea, 

"And  darkness  overspread  his  sight, 
The  world  to  him  was  hid  in  night; 
The  bow  dropped  from  his  slackened  hand, 
And  down  he  sank  upon  the  sand." 

Now  long  Isfendiyar  swooned,  and  his  kinsmen  and 
chiefs,  beholding  what  had  befallen,  rent  the  air  with  their 
woe.  But  the  Prince,  when  he  revived,  said  unto  them 
calmly: 

"O  Heroes  of  Iran,  trouble  not  yourselves  on  account 
of  my  death,  for  it  is  not  Rustem  who  hath  slain  me,  nor 
the  Simurgh,  nor  yet  the  magic  arrow,  but  my  father,  who 
knowingly  sent  me  forth  unto  my  death,  and  verily  the 
curse  of  the  Great  Prophet  shall  fall  upon  his  head.  As 
for  thee,  O  Rustem,  being  but  the  instrument  of  fate,  thou 
art  guiltless  in  this  matter,  and  that  thou  mayest  know 
how  I  honor  thee,  I  desire  that  thou  take  unto  thee  Bah- 
man,  my  son,  and  rear  him  for  Iran,  even  as  thou  didst 
noble  Siawush,  for  lot  it  hath  been  revealed  unto  me  that 


354  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

Bahman  will  sit  upon  the  throne  that  hath  been  denied 
unto  me." 

Alas!  having  thus  spoken,  behold,  Isfendiyar  sighed, 
and  the  sun  of  his  life  was  set,  and  great  was  the  lamenta- 
tion for  the  brave  young  hero  lost  unto  Iran.  As  for  Rus- 
tem,  sorrowfully  he  made  ready  for  Isfendiyar  a  coffin  of 
gold,  causing  it  to  be  lined  with  silken  stuffs  and  perfumed 
with  amber.  Then  he  laid  therein  the  valiant  hero-prince 
of  the  Heft-Khan,  and  all  beholding  him  wept  with  bitter 
sorrow.  Tenderly  then  the  coffin  of  gold  was  placed  upon 
the  back  of  a  slow-moving  dromedary,  forty  others  follow- 
ing in  its  wake.  And  lo!  there  followed  after  them  the 
brave  army  of  the  Prince,  clad  in  robes  of  mourning,  while 
Bashutan  marched  at  the  head  of  the  sorrowful  train, 
leading  Isfendiyar's  horse,  whose  saddle  was  reversed  and 
whose  mane  and  tail  were  shorn,  while  from  its  sides  hung 
the  armor  of  the  vanquished  one.  Now  thus  it  was  that 
they  brought  brave  Isfendiyar  back  unto  the  palace  of  his 
fathers,  and  behold !  all  the  world  mourned  this  great  loss 
unto  Iran. 

But  while  Iran  sorrowed  for  Isfendiyar,  behold,  Bah- 
man grew  up  in  the  courts  of  Rustem,  the  Pehliva  loving 
him  as  a  son.  For  in  his  heart  he  grieved  bitterly  that  by 
his  hand  brave  Isfendiyar  had  fallen.  Yea,  and  he  gloried 
not  in  his  last  great  fight,  even  though  he  knew  that  now 
his  star  would  shine  on  undimmed  unto  the  end,  and  that 
the  children  of  Ormuzd  would  sing  his  praises  through  all 
the  ages  as  the  one  greaLunconquered  hero  of  the  Persians. 


THE  DEATH  OF  RUSTEM 

E!  it  is  chronicled  by  Firdusi,  who,  in  his  great  epic 
poem,  hath  made  immortal  the  heroes  and  kings  of 
Persia,  that  Zal  in  his  old  age  had  born  unto  him 
a  son  of  remarkable  beauty.  But  alas !  when  the  astrologers 
cast  the  horoscope  of  this  beautiful  babe,  they  read  therein 
that  few  and  evil  would  be  the  days  of  Shughad;  that  he 
would  be  the  ruin  of  the  house  of  his  fathers,  also  bringing 
destruction  upon  the  land  of  Iran. 

Now  Zal  was  overwhelmed  with  dismay  when  this  mes- 
sage of  the  stars  was  communicated  unto  him,  and  he 
prayed  continually  unto  Ormuzd  that  he  would  avert  this 
terrible  fate  from  the  head  of  his  boy.  Yea,  and  he  reared 
him  carefully,  sparing  no  pains  to  inculcate  in  the  youth 
the  principles  of  truth,  honor,  loyalty  unto  his  house  and 
unto  the  King. 

Then,  when  Shughad  was  come  unto  man's  estate,  Zal 
sent  him  unto  the  King  of  Kabul,  who,  when  he  saw  that 
he  was  tall  and  handsome,  and  fit  in  every  way  to  sit  upon 
the  throne,  showed  unto  him  great  kindness,  even  giving 
unto  him  his  daughter  in  marriage,  and  providing  for  him 
bountifully. 

Now  the  King  of  Kabul  paid  tribute  unto  Rustem, 
every  year  being  required  to  send  unto  the  Hero  of  Seistan 
a  bull's  hide  as  a  token  of  sovereignty.  And  alas!  this  was 
a  great  grievance  unto  his  soul,  for  he  was  proud  in  his 
spirit  and  desired  to  be  bondsman  unto  none.  So  it  was 
355 


356  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

not  alone  kindness  which  prompted  him  to  take  Shughad 
unto  him  as  his  son,  for  in  his  heart  he  hoped  thus  to  have 
the  tribute  remitted. 

But  behold!  when  the  proper  time  came,  Rustem  sent 
his  messenger  as  usual  to  demand  the  bull's  hide,  which 
made  the  King  very  angry.  So,  in  his  disappointment,  he 
hesitated  not  to  express  his  opinion  of  Rustem' s  conduct 
unto  Shughad,  stirring  up  his  mind  against  his  brother. 
Then  Shughad,  becoming  angry  and  discontented  also, 
said  unto  the  King: 

"Verily,  since  my  elder  brother  hath  behaved  unto  me 
thus  unkindly,  in  my  heart  he  shall  be  unto  me  no  more 
than  a  stranger.  Let  us  consider,  therefore,  how  we  may 
ensnare  him." 

So  all  night  the  King  and  Shughad  talked  and  pondered 
how  they  might  rid  the  world  of  Rustem,  and  at  last  they 
decided  upon  a  scheme. 

Consequently,  it  came  to  pass  that  presently  the  King  of 
Kabul  gave  a  great  feast,  and  when  all  had  become  excited 
with  wine,  behold,  Shughad,  the  son  of  Zal,  began  to 
boast  of  his  lineage,  saying: 

"  Verily,  Shughad  alone  of  all  this  great  company  should 
be  toasted!  Yea,  and  I  except  not  even  the  King,  our 
host!  For  is  not  the  Mighty  Rustem  my  brother?  And 
do  I  not  come  from  a  long  line  of  heroes,  extending  from 
Husheng  the  Shah  even  unto  Zal  of  the  white  hair?" 

Now  hearing  this,  lo,  the  King  sprang  up  in  pretended 
wrath,  saying: 

"Upstart!  Thinkest  thou  to  lord  it  over  me,  the  King 
of  Kabul?  Verily,  nay!  For  thou  art  really  no  brother 
unto  Rustem,  since  thy  mother  was  but  a  slave  in  thy 
father's  household.  Therefore,  boast  not  so  loudly." 


THE  DEATH  OF  RUSTEM  357 

Then  Shughad,  feigning  great  anger,  hastily  left  the 
banqueting-halls,  threatening  to  call  forth  Rustem  to 
avenge  the  insulting  words  of  the  King.  So,  with  guile  in 
his  heart,  the  Prince  rode  forth  unto  the  palace  of  his 
brother.  And  behold!  after  they  had  exchanged  greetings, 
Rustem  said: 

"And  how  fares  it  with  thee  at  Kabul,  O  my  brother? 
Art  thou  still  happy  and  contented  in  the  King's  palace?" 

Then  Shughad,  rejoicing  at  the  opening  thus  given  him, 
said: 

"I  pray  thee  do  not  speak  unto  me  of  Kabul,  for  the 
word  is  hateful  unto  mine  ears.  For  verily  this  night  hath 
the  King  insulted  me  beyond  bearing.  Yea,  and  thee,  too, 
and  my  father!  So  I  came  away  in  a  rage,  and  never  will 
I  return  until  the  vile  words  which  he  spake  of  my  family 
are  avenged." 

Now  when  Rustem  learned  what  had  been  spoken  by  the 
King  of  Kabul,  he  said  unto  Shughad : 

"O  my  brother,  trouble  not  thyself  concerning  this 
matter,  for  verily  it  shall  bring  thee  naught  but  gain. 
Alas!  ever  hath  the  King  of  Kabul  been  vain  and  arrogant 
of  spirit,  but  for  this  he  shall  be  humbled  unto  the  dust, 
for  no  longer  shall  he  reign  in  Kabul,  since  his  crown  shall 
henceforth  grace  thine  own  fair  brow." 

So,  at  once  Rustem  set  forth  to  avenge  the  wrongs  of  his 
brother,  but  lo !  when  they  were  yet  far  from  Kabul,  they 
were  met  by  the  King,  who,  bowing  himself  low  in  the  dust, 
said  unto  Rustem: 

"O  Lord  of  the  World!  Thou  beholdest  before  thee, 
with  uncovered  head  and  bare  feet,  the  proud  King  of 
Kabul.  Pardon,  therefore — thou  who  art  gracious  as  the 
River  Nile— the  foolish  words  of  thy  slave,  spoken  when 


358  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

his  head  was  troubled  with  wine.  For  lo!  his  mouth  is 
filled  with  dust  and  his  soul  with  sorrow  and  repentance." 

Now  hearing  these  words  of  humility,  Rustem's  anger 
was  appeased.  Granting  unto  the  King  forgiveness,  there- 
fore, he  graciously  consented  to  be  his  guest.  So  a  great 
banquet  was  made  ready  to  celebrate  the  reconciliation, 
and  as  they  feasted  the  King  lauded  his  wondrous  hunting- 
grounds,  wherein  the  deer  and  the  wild  ass  furnished  such 
excellent  sport,  and  he  invited  Rustem  to  hunt  therein  for 
a  day  before  returning  unto  Seistan. 

So  Rustem,  who  loved  the  chase  almost  as  well  as  the 
field  of  battle,  consented  to  remain  the  King's  guest  for 
yet  another  day,  for  he  suspected  not  that  poison  lurked  in 
the  honey  of  the  monarch's  words.  But  alas!  in  a  certain 
part  of  these  beautiful  hunting-grounds,  the  schemers  had 
caused  to  be  dug  treacherous  pits,  lined  thickly  with 
swords  and  lances  and  hunting-spears,  yet  no  man  would 
have  suspected  their  existence,  so  cleverly  were  they 
covered  over. 

On  the  following  day,  therefore,  the  King  directed  the 
hunt  unto  the  place  in  the  forest  where  the  pits  were  hidden. 
And  behold!  Shughad  ran  beside  the  horse  of  Rustem  to 
show  unto  him  the  path.  But  when  they  were  come  unto 
the  place  of  peril,  Rakush,  smelling  the  newly-turned 
earth,  reared  high  in  the  air,  refusing  to  advance.  Then 
Rustem,  thinking  he  was  afraid,  commanded  him  to  go 
forward;  but  Rakush,  backing,  refused  to  give  ear  unto 
his  master's  voice.  Now  this  made  Rustem  angry  so  that 
lightly  he  struck  him  with  his  whip,  though  never  before 
in  all  their  long  wanderings  together  had  he  done  so.  Then, 
alas!  surprised  and  maddened  by  the  stroke,  Rakush  sprang 
forward,  but  only  to  fall  into  one  of  the  treacherous  pits. 


THE  DEATH  OF  RUSTEM  359 

Now  sinking  into  the  midst  of  this  cruel  bed  of  pointed 
weapons,  many  a  ghastly  stab  and  many  a  cut  in  limb  and 
body  received  Rustem  and  his  gallant  steed.  Yet  from 
this  awful  grave,  at  one  prodigious  spring,  Rakush  escaped 
with  his  master  still  upon  his  back.  But  alas!  what  availed 
that  mighty  effort  ?  For,  down  again  into  another  pit,  yet 
deeper,  both  fell  together.  And  though  again  they  rose, 
and  yet  again,  it  was  only  to  be  engulfed  once  more,  and 
yet  again.  Yea,  seven  times  down  prostrate,  seven  times 
bruised  and  maimed,  did  Rakush  struggle  on,  until  mount- 
ing up  the  edge  of  the  seventh  pit,  all  covered  with  deep 
wounds,  both  horse  and  rider  lay  exhausted,  Rustem 
swooning  in  his  agony. 

But  when  once  more  the  mighty  Hero  opened  his  horror- 
stricken  eyes  upon  the  world,  lo,  he  beheld  Shughad  his 
brother,  smiling  in  triumph  at  his  side.  Then  knew  he 
unto  whom  he  owed  this  infamous  treachery,  and  he  said: 

uThou  Wicked  One!  Is  it  possible  that  thou,  the  son 
of  Zal,  hast  contrived  and  wrought  this  evil  deed  against 
thy  brother  ?  Verily  thy  heart  is  as  black  as  thy  shadow, 
which  shall  not  long  darken  the  earth." 

Then  the  treacherous  Shughad,  trying  to  justify  his  cruel 
deed,  said  sternly  unto  the  dying  Hero: 

"Verily,  God  hath  decreed  this  awful  vengeance  to 
recompense  thee  for  all  the  blood  that  thou  hast  shed  in 
thy  long  life  as  a  warrior.  Not  I,  but  He,  hath  determined 
thy  fate." 

Now  at  this  moment  the  King  of  Kabul  drew  near, 
feigning  great  anger  and  sorrow  when  he  beheld  the  dying 
one.  And  he  wailed: 

"Alas  the  day!  That  the  Mighty  Rustem  should  perish 
so  ignobly,  and  as  my  guest!  Quick,  bring  the  matchless 


360  PERSIAN  HERO  TALES 

balm  for  Rustem's  cure,  for  the  great  Champion  of  Iran 
must  not  be  allowed  to  die  a  death  so  wretched!" 

But  Rustem,  smiling  scornfully,  said  unto  the  treach- 
erous King: 

" O  Man  of  Wile!  Right  well  thou  knowest  that  Death, 
that  cometh  unto  all  men  in  their  turn,  is  the  only  physi- 
cian that  now  can  heal  the  great  Rustem  of  his  wounds. 
But  why  should  the  mighty  son  of  Zal  complain  of  Fate  ? 
For  verily,  many  a  mighty  King  hath  died  and  left  me  still 
triumphant,  still  in  power  unconquerable.  And  behold! 
yet  there  liveth  valiant  Feramurz,  who  will  be  revenged 
upon  thee  for  his  father's  death." 

And  now  the  Mighty  Rustem  sighed,  saying  unto 
Shughad  in  a  weak  and  mournful  voice : 

"Verily,  my  spirit  will  soon  be  free!  But  alas!  it  griev- 
eth  me  sore  that  my  faithful  body  may  this  night  be  food 
unto  the  wolves  and  lions.  String,  therefore,  my  bow,  and 
place  it  in  my  hands  that  I  may  appear  unto  the  wild 
beasts  that  would  devour  me,  even  as  a  live  warrior,  ready 
to  defend  his  life.  For  our  father's  sake,  O  Shughad, 
refuse  not  thy  brother  this  last  request." 

So,  suspecting  naught,  Shughad  drew  the  great  bow 
from  its  case,  and  placed  it  in  Rustem's  hands,  smiling 
with  satisfaction  to  think  that  his  brother's  end  was  so 
nigh.  But  verily  he  smiled  not  but  a  moment,  for  noting 
the  strength  with  which  Rustem  gripped  his  bow,  and  the 
peculiar  look  of  his  eye,  shuddering  with  terror,  quickly 
Shughad  dodged  behind  a  plane-tree  close  at  hand.  But 
useless  was  the  shelter,  for  though  the  dimness  of  death 
was  come  over  the  eyes  of  the  Hero,  he  yet  spied  Shughad 
where  he  hid,  and  whiz!  went  an  arrow,  straight  through 
the  tree  and  the  wicked  Shughad,  transfixing  them  to- 


THE  DEATH  OF  RUSTEM  361 

gether.  And  Rustem,  when  he  saw  the  fate  of  his  brother, 
was  content,  knowing  that  he  could  do  no  more  harm  unto 
his  house. 

But  alas!  of  all  that  mighty  hunting-party  not  a  knightly 
follower  escaped.  For  Zuara  and  all  the  others  perished 
in  the  treacherous  pits  of  the  traitor  King,  save  only  one, 
who  quickly  fled  with  the  dire  news  unto  Seistan. 

Then  Zal,  in  agony,  tore  his  white  hair  and  rent  his 
garments,  lamenting  bitterly  for  Rustem,  crying  again 
and  again: 

"Why  was  I  not  present,  fighting  at  his  side?  Why 
could  I  not  die  for  him  ?  Wherefore,  alas,  am  I  left  alone 
to  mourn  his  memory?" 

But  behold!  though  bowed  to  the  earth  with  grief, 
quickly  the  white-haired  old  warrior  sent  Feramurz  forth 
with  a  great  army  to  avenge  the  death  of  his  father.  And 
verily  the  work  of  the  Hero  was  complete.  For  not  only 
did  he  make  of  Kabul  a  desert,  but  he  laid  low  the  head  of 
the  treacherous  King  and  all  his  race.  Then  the  work  of 
vengeance  finished,  lo,  he  sought  out  the  body  of  Rustem, 
and  of  Rakush  his  gallant  steed,  and  bare  them  back  in 
sorrow  unto  Seistan,  where  they  were  placed  in  a  noble 
tomb. 

And  alas!  never  was  there  such  wailing  in  the  land  of 
Iran  as  for  Rustem  the  Mighty.  Nay,  not  even  for  the 
glorious  Shahs  of  Old!  And  well  might  it  be  so,  for  never 
again  did  Persia  rejoice  in  such  an  unbroken  line  of  heroes, 
and  never  did  she  achieve  such  telling  victories,  for  with 
Rustem  her  glory  departed;  yea,  for  many  long  years! 


The  Boy's  Hakluyt 

New   Edition   of  English  Voyages  of  Adventure  and 
Discovery 


By  E.  M.  Bacon 

Illustrated,     fi.jo  net 

"There  is  more  adventure  in  this  volume  than 
will  be  found  in  a  whole  library  of  fiction." 

—New  York  Sun. 

"  Here  in  one  stout  volume  is  the  rich  account 
of  real  pirates,  and  galleons  that  actually  swam 
the  seas,  and  adventurers  who  genuinely  swigged 
and  swaggered,  suffered  and  sang." — Chicago  Post. 

"Nothing  in  fictitious  tales  of  an  olden  time  can 
surpass  the  reality ;  and  Hawkins,  Drake,  and  Gil- 
bert are  heroes  with  whose  careers  every  boy  should 
be  familiar." — Providence  Journal. 

"  The  story  of  these  voyages  of  adventure  is  a 
story  of  pluck,  daring,  courage,  and  genuine  hero- 
ism."—^. Paul  Dispatch. 

"  Thrilling  tales  of  adventure.  The  book  is  ad- 
mirably illustrated."—  The  Outlook. 

CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS 


The  Boy's  Catlin 

My  Life  Among  the  Indians 

By  George  Catlin 

Edited  and  arranged  for  boy».  with   Biographical   Introduction,  by 
Mary  Gay  Humphrey* 

With  if)  illustrations  from  Catlin's  drawings 
$1.50  net 

The  most  interesting  parts  of  Catlin's  famous  book 
about  the  North  American  Indians  and  their  history 
and  habits  and  customs  in  war,  peace,  and  hunting, 
arranged  for  boys  and  superbly  illustrated  from 
reproductions  of  the  author's  drawings.  George 
Catlin,  the  Indian  painter,  lived  among  the  Indians 
and  studied  them  at  close  range,  and  his  story  of 
the  dangers  and  hardships  of  the  war-path,  the 
hunting  and  trapping,  and  life  in  the  villages  when 
they  were  at  peace  with  their  neighbors,  and  the 
illustrations  cannot  fail  to  interest  the  American 
boy  who  is  fond  of  healthy  out-door  sports  and 
adventures.  The  book  is  edited  and  arranged  for 
boys  by  Mary  Gay  Humphreys. 

CHARLES    SCRIBNER'S    SONS 


jclOS-ANK 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 

»  I  P. MEM 


ftBAMIH 

tf -LIBRAE 


071! 
FEB021994 

4WKMAR  08  1997 

y\J\R2*'97     RtCCl| 
ACNOV021998 


iF-CAllFO 


315 


lOS-ANCfl^ 


II 


£    > 

it 


